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Police Officer

Melvin Lisojo

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch June 24, 2003

Age 35

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 336 · Column 3 · Line 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 57

Incident

Officer Lisojo was killed in an automobile accident when his patrol car was broadsided by a driver that had run a red light at Bergen Street and 18th Avenue.

The driver of that vehicle was later found to be intoxicated. Officer Lisojo was the passenger in the second of three patrol cars responding to shots fired call at 0200 hours. As Officer Lisojo's patrol car entered the intersection, it was struck broadside, causing it to flip onto its side. Officer Lisojo and his partner were both transported to University Hospital in critical condition. Officer Lisojo succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

The 26-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the patrol car was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, recklessly operating a vehicle, and driving while intoxicated. The suspect was also wanted on several outstanding warrants, including one for an incident earlier in the year when the suspect exchanged gunfire with several Newark Officers. In late 2005, the suspect accepted a plea agreement, and in January 2006, he was sentenced to 20 years, 15 years for vehicular homicide, and an additional five years on several drug counts. He was released on February 27, 2019.

Officer Lisojo had served with the Newark Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his three children, parents, sister, and four brothers, one who also serves with the Newark Police Department.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lisojo gave the Newark Police Division 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lisojo.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Newark Police Division

Type Police Department

Location Newark, Essex County, NJ

Platform Identity npd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 24, 2003

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Melvin is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 2003, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Melvin was 35. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Melvin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 1% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded