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Incident
Sergeant Patrick King was shot and killed by a wanted murderer who had been arrested by the same agency two weeks earlier under an alias. Sergeant King was on his meal break and had just ordered food at a local restaurant. Unknown to Sergeant King, the suspect had called 911 twice in the preceding few minutes in an attempt to lure a police officer to the area. The suspect was wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a murder he had committed in Massachusetts in 1996. After learning that the FBI was searching for him, the suspect vowed that he would not go to prison and decided to kill as many police officers as he could before killing himself. As Sergeant King was standing at the counter of the restaurant waiting for his order, the suspect walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head twice with a .38 caliber handgun. The suspect then took Sergeant King's service weapon and stole his patrol car. He then used the patrol car's radio to taunt other officers. The suspect then car-jacked two separate cars and led New Jersey State Police and other Long Branch police officers on a 50-mile high speed chase that ended on the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York City, New York. After crashing his vehicle on the bridge the man engaged other officers in a gunfight before committing suicide with Sergeant King's weapon. A police officer from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department was accidentally shot and wounded by a New Jersey State Police trooper during the shootout on the bridge. Sergeant King had served with the Long Branch Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Sergeant King gave the Long Branch Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Long Branch community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Long Branch Police Department has lost 3 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Patrick is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Patrick is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Patrick is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1997, 4 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1997, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Patrick was 45. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Patrick had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Patrick was 45. 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. Patrick had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Patrick was 45. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Patrick had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 6.8% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Thursdays: 13.3%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 66.7% of all 3 deaths at Long Branch Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.5% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Long Branch Police Department has 3 officers remembered here, Patrick among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Long Branch Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
