Incident
Patrolman Laubenstein died after contracting blood poisoning as a result of being kicked by a suspect. He was attempting to place the mentally deranged man into a patrol car when the man kicked him in the shin. Two days after the incident Patrolman Laubenstein was placed in the hospital and where surgery was performed as a result of gangrene. His health continued to deteriorate until he died 15 days after the initial incident.
Patrolman Laubenstein had been with the agency for 24 years and was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Patrolman Laubenstein had been with the agency for 24 years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpx9g5h67pww6x1qv6tk- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
24 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Laubenstein gave the Newark Police Division 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Laubenstein.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Newark Police Division has lost 58 officers; 28 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John 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 1924, 1 officer at Newark Police Division was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1876, with 2.
In 1924, 2 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1924, 228 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 52. Of the 26 killed feloniously at Newark Police Division whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 46; the middle age was 36.5. John had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 8.7 years.
John was 52. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
John was 52. 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. John had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 52. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 7.1% of these deaths at Newark Police Division; March holds the most, 21.4%. Wednesdays: 21.4%.
February holds 7.6% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Wednesdays: 14%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 48.3% of all 58 deaths at Newark Police Division, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 3.6% 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
Newark Police Division has 58 officers remembered here, John among them.
-
Maxwell Badgley Oct 23, 1854
-
Benjamin Ellsden Jul 13, 1876
-
Stanley J. Brock Aug 8, 1876
-
Thomas Lyons Apr 14, 1885
-
John Sebold
Mar 9, 1886
-
John J. McGovern
Oct 13, 1912
-
John J. Gaffney
Dec 7, 1912
-
James P. Parkinson Apr 19, 1914
-
William H. Hopkins
Jun 21, 1917
-
Thomas S. Adubato
Aug 17, 1918
-
Patrick J. Ryan
Jul 16, 1919
-
Thomas J. Downey
Jan 4, 1922
-
Cedric J. Peterson
May 22, 1922
-
Edward Bonnet
Aug 29, 1923
-
John Laubenstein Feb 20, 1924
-
John T. Plunkett Dec 12, 1924
-
Joseph Nichols
Oct 31, 1925
-
William A. Frederick
Dec 14, 1927
-
Alfred Thiele Feb 6, 1929
-
Charles A. Robbins
Mar 18, 1929
-
Robert W. Anderson
Mar 5, 1930
-
Albert Houston
Sep 16, 1932
-
Edward Dehmer, Sr.
Dec 1, 1933
-
Charles J. Gerstner, Jr. Nov 30, 1934
-
Albert E. Seltzer
Oct 9, 1935
-
Joseph J. Baumann
Sep 18, 1942
-
Theodore Laux
Feb 4, 1950
-
John F. Galler
Nov 28, 1950
-
Jack Woomer
Jul 10, 1957
-
Howard K. Downes
Feb 10, 1958
-
Joseph C. Hagel
Mar 15, 1961
-
Francis J. Shannon
Mar 29, 1963
-
John C. Gutekunst
Oct 16, 1965
-
Walter A. Debold
Dec 12, 1965
-
Frederick W. Toto
Jul 14, 1967
-
Robert M. LaMotta
Oct 27, 1967
-
Leslie Haskins, Jr.
Mar 13, 1970
-
Frank C. Irvin
Mar 29, 1973
-
Richard P. Burns, Sr.
Feb 23, 1975
-
John William Snow
Aug 13, 1976
-
Arthur L. Williams
Mar 1, 1978
-
John F. Gottfried
Nov 28, 1980
-
John Walter Sczyrek Jr.
Jun 3, 1993
-
Dewey Joe Sherbo, III
Nov 9, 1997
-
Melvin Lisojo
Jun 24, 2003
-
Dwayne Anthony Reeves
Jul 18, 2005
-
Tommaso Popolizio
Mar 3, 2007
-
Michael Morgan, Jr.
Nov 7, 2011
-
Reinaldo Arocha, Jr.
Sep 16, 2014
-
Tolbert A. Furr
Apr 3, 2020
-
Michael Alexander Conners
Apr 30, 2020
-
Michael W. Clegg
May 10, 2020
-
Irving Gene Callender, III
Aug 22, 2020
-
Marcus Thomas
Sep 28, 2020
-
Hector Moya
Jan 13, 2021
-
Brian K. McAdams, Sr.
Jan 22, 2021
-
Richard Weber
May 1, 2023
-
Joseph Anthony Azcona
Mar 8, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
57 officers from Newark Police Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















