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Incident
Deputy Keeper Joseph Peto succumbed to injuries suffered three years earlier when he was severely beaten by four inmates during an escape from the New Jersey State Prison Farm in Bordentown.
The prisoners beat Keeper Peto into unconsciousness and fractured his skull before they stole his car and fled from the prison farm. They later broke into a farmhouse and beat an elderly couple before stealing their vehicle. They were captured several days later in New Brunswick. They were all convicted of beating the elderly couple and theft of their car, as well as the beating of Keeper Peto and had over 20 years added to their original sentences.
Deputy Keeper Peto was unable to return to work and his condition deteriorated until he succumbed to his injuries on December 2nd, 1948.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven step-children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Keeper Peto gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Keeper Peto.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New Jersey Department of Corrections has lost 32 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
Joseph is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1948, 1 officer at New Jersey Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1948, 1 officer in NJ was killed feloniously, the 61st heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Joseph was 50. Of the 16 killed feloniously at New Jersey Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 62; the middle age was 54. Joseph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
Joseph was 50. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Joseph was 50. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 50. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 6.3% of these deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections; February holds the most, 25%. Thursdays: 37.5%.
December holds 8.7% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Thursdays: 13.3%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 32 deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
New Jersey Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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James B. Lippincott Mar 2, 1894
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Jacob Grandine Van Houten
Apr 14, 1896
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William H. Hemsing
Aug 17, 1899
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Charles I. Parker Oct 25, 1900
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Joseph W. Martin Nov 13, 1908
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Edward McManus Feb 18, 1909
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John R. Fitzgerald May 10, 1911
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Eli B. Stetser
Sep 21, 1913
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Frederick A. Douglass Mar 11, 1915
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Bruce Linwood Drummond
Mar 20, 1919
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George Harrison May 4, 1924
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Daniel J. Walsh Jul 3, 1924
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Joseph H. Tinney
Feb 4, 1928
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Frank Butcher
Mar 13, 1930
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Joseph Peto Dec 2, 1948
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Victor Viteritto
Feb 28, 1951
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Alonzo Lanphear Apr 10, 1954
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Donald Hiles
Mar 8, 1968
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George Paszkowski
Aug 8, 1969
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Donald Bourne
Feb 28, 1972
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Dean E. Evans Jul 7, 1978
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Frederick W. Baker
Jul 30, 1997
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Michael Price
Apr 19, 2000
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Wayne Robert Clark
Jan 10, 2006
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Nikeelan D. Semmon
Jul 1, 2016
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Nelson Perdomo
Apr 9, 2020
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Maria Gibbs
Apr 22, 2020
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Vincent R. Butler
Dec 28, 2020
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Edward Chavez Jamandron
Jan 15, 2021
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Daniel Richard Krupa
Nov 17, 2021
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Robert F. McCormack
Jan 30, 2022
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Daniel Sincavage
May 19, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-WT
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
