To Protect and Serve
The Camden Police Officers memorial was dedicated in 1992 by then Mayor Aaron Thompson and sits outside Camden’s Police Administration Building at Haddon Avenue and Federal Street. When the monument was ordered, there was no one on hand who remembered back to 1934, when Detective William Feitz was killed in the line of duty. This omission was discovered only in late December of 2003; appropriate documentation was submitted to the proper authorities in January of 2004. Two other members of Camden’s law enforcement community gave their lives in the line of duty: Turnkey Isaac Hibbs, who was slain during an escape at the County Jail in 1916; and Constable William Cramer, shot down while serving a writ in August of 1921.
The City of Camden NJ has seen eight of its police officers lay their lives down while serving the public interest. At least one other officer died of natural causes while on duty. Never having worked in law enforcement, I can see that police work is a dangerous job, with long hours, impossible weather, and for not a whole lot of money, often dealing with the worst elements of our society, and being involved on a daily basis with much of the ugliest side of American life. It is my considered opinion that the general public owes a big thank you to its honest and hardworking police officers on a daily basis.
— Phillip Cohen, Webmaster, dvrbs.com
Colsey Leads City-Wide Hunt for Bandit Killers of Cop
Camden Evening Courier —
William Feitz, Detective, Camden Police Department
Joined the Camden Police Department March 1, 1928. Died September 2, 1934.
After trailing a car with four bandits, Detective Feitz was shot from behind after following three of them into the house at 243 Sycamore Street. He was taken to West Jersey Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was survived by his widowed mother, his wife, and children.
The killer of William Feitz, Charles Zied, was arrested on a later date, tried, and executed in New Jersey’s electric chair on June 22, 1936.
George F. Jefferis, Officer, Camden Police Department
Born April 4, 1897. Joined the Camden Police Department July 1, 1926. Died September 5, 1951.
While assigned to motorcycle traffic patrol, Officer Jefferis, a 25 year veteran of law enforcement, was struck by a motor vehicle while on his motorcycle. He died at Cooper Hospital in Camden while being treated for injuries received in the accident. He left a wife and one daughter.
Carmin Fuscellaro, Jr., Sergeant, Camden Police Department
Born July 11, 1926. Joined the Camden Police Department January 17, 1949. Died February 4, 1961.
Known to his brother officers as “Fussy,” Sergeant Fuscellaro was very progressive during his 12 year career with the Camden Police Department. He was instrumental in the formation of the accident investigation unit and heavy duty rescue unit. Once this unit was in operation he turned his attention to the formation of a K-9 unit, of which he was in command at the time of his death. Sergeant Fuscellaro died of shotgun wounds he received during a jail escape, at the old Camden Jail on the 6th floor of City Hall, Camden NJ. He was accidentally shot and killed by another officer when he was mistaken for an escaped prisoner. Sergeant Fuscellaro and his canine partner were searching City Hall when the other officer shot him. At the time of the shooting canine officers and the inmates wore the same type of coveralls. He was survived by his wife.
Charles W. Sutman, Officer, Camden Police Department
Born July 17, 1947. Joined the Camden Police Department November 25, 1968. Died July 5, 1969.
Officer Sutman died of shotgun wounds received while responding to a domestic dispute assignment. He was killed by a shotgun blast from a second floor window. His training officer was able to take cover, but Officer Sutman’s Police Academy classmate, Officer George E. Schultz, was also killed as he tried to come to Officer Sutman’s aid. Officer Sutman’s young life was tragically ended only seven months after he began his law enforcement career. He was survived by his wife, 2 year old son, and an unborn child. The murderer of Officers Sutman and Schultz was sentenced to life imprisonment.
George E. Schultz, Jr., Officer, Camden Police Department
Born September 28, 1942. Joined the Camden Police Department November 25, 1968. Died July 5, 1969.
While responding to a domestic disturbance call, Officer Schultz observed his Academy classmate Officer Charles Sutman gunned down by a shotgun blast from a second floor window. As he attempted to assist his brother officer, Officer Schultz was killed by the same assailant as he exited his cruiser. Officer Schultz’s career was ended tragically only 7 months after it began, and he left his wife and one daughter. The murderer of Officers Sutman and Schultz was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Rand J. Chandler, Sr., Officer, Camden Police Department
Born April 17, 1947. Joined the Camden Police Department November 25, 1968. Died September 2, 1969.
Officer Chandler was killed during the riots that disrupted Camden in the Summer of 1969, by a shotgun blast. Officer Chandler was shot and killed during a civil disturbance. He had been assigned to guard vehicles and equipment with two other officers when an unknown suspect opened fire with a shotgun from a nearby rooftop. Officer Chandler and an 11-year-old girl were killed. Officer Chandler was the third member of his Academy class to be killed in the defense of law and order within a year. He was survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. The murderer of Officer Rand J. Chandler was never arrested.
Elwood L. Ridge, Officer, Camden Police Department
Born May 21, 1944. Joined the Camden Police Department August 9, 1968. Died July 2, 1973.
Officer Ridge, known to his brother officers as “Woody,” was killed by gunshot wound from his own weapon which was taken from him while answering a domestic dispute assignment. While attempting to separate the two offenders, Officer Ridge’s handgun was taken from his holster and he was shot.
Elwood Ridge had grown up in the lower end of Camden County. His father owned the White Horse Motel on the White Horse Pike, and “Woody” Ridge lived there as a boy. He was married, with no children; his wife was about 4 months pregnant at the time of his death. Officer Montell Williams was the first officer on the scene after he was shot. He related in November of 2002:
A large funeral was held for officer Ridge. The Philadelphia Police Department provided manpower for traffic duty to free up Camden officers so they could attend the funeral.
The shooter, Derrick Butler, was arrested by Philadelphia police for throwing bottles at cars and then bragged to them that he had just killed a Camden police officer. Derrick Butler was sentenced to life in prison.
Stuart L. Roberts, Officer, Camden Police Department
Born September 20, 1951. Joined the Camden Police Department February 19, 1974. Died October 1, 1975.
Officer Roberts was assigned to plain clothes duty with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit. He was shot to death while on duty. Officer Roberts was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect who was barricaded in a home. During the incident Officer Roberts was shot with a shotgun. Officer Roberts left a wife and two daughters.
Died of Natural Causes While on Duty
Edward C. Hahn, Lieutenant, Camden Police Department
Joined the Camden Police Department 1922. Died April 1, 1944.
Lieutenant Hahn died of a sudden heart attack shortly after reporting for duty on the 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM shift at the police station at 27th and Federal Streets. Feeling poorly, he went across the street to the Merit Pharmacy at 26th Street and Westfield Avenue, only to collapse on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at Cooper Hospital. He left a wife, two adult sons and a married daughter. One of Lieutenant Hahn’s pallbearers was Carmin Fuscellaro Sr. His son Carmin Fuscellaro Jr., would be killed in the line of duty while serving on the Camden Police Force.
Joseph Kunicki, Officer, Camden Police Department
Born May 15, 1937. Died October 1979.
Officer Kunicki was at Roll Call at the then-new Police Administration at Haddon Avenue and Federal Street when he began symptoms of a heart attack. Although taken to Cooper Hospital, the heart attack was fatal. Officer Kunicki left a wife and four children.
Camden County Jail Personnel Killed in the Line of Duty
Isaac Hibbs, Turnkey, Camden County Jail
Died July 17, 1916.
Turnkey Hibbs, aged 65, was shot and killed as two prisoners escaped from the Camden County Jail.
The suspects were arrested the next day in Chester, Pennsylvania. With them was the woman who smuggled the gun into the jail. She too, was arrested and charged as an accomplice to the murder. Extradited to New Jersey to stand trial for the murder of Isaac Hibbs, the triggerman in the killing, Wilson Ashbridge, paid for his crime in the electric chair on February 1, 1917.
Camden District Court Personnel Killed in the Line of Duty
William Cramer, Constable, 10th Ward, Camden District Court
Appointed Constable 1919, Reelected 1921. Died August 28, 1921.
Constable Cramer was shot and mortally wounded while attempting to serve a writ at Tuckahoe NJ.
The suspect was arrested in Audubon NJ, and returned to Cape May County for trial.