Atlantic City, New Jersey Police Officers Who Died In The Line of Duty
I was thinking long and hard today about how difficult the job of a police officer is. It always has been and even more so today.
It then made me think about how much more difficult the job has become in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the draconian staffing cuts and other poor leadership decisions made and not made by the state of New Jersey.
This mental exercise next took me to the Atlantic City police officers who gave their life in the line of duty serving the public.
I went to a resource called “The Officer Down Memorial Page.”
This source has recorded the line of duty deaths within the ranks of the Atlantic City Police Department from 1890 to the present.
I have long believed that the definition of a “line of duty death” should be expanded to include other deaths that are also a direct result of their challenging career in law enforcement.
Here are the Atlantic City Police Officers who have been memorialized as dying “in the line of duty.”
If they/we have missed a (line of duty) deceased Atlantic City Police Officer who should be included, please reach out to me so that we can amend this report immediately.
We have always strongly believed that we should remember, to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
We thank each of these officers for their valiant service and mourn their loss and pay our sincere respect to their family members, who have suffered an impossible loss that can never be filled, ever again.
Atlantic City Police Department
Police Officer Kevin B. Wilkins
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Patrolman Thomas J. McMeekin, Jr.
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Friday, March 4, 2005
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Cause: Heart attack
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Wednesday, October 14, 1981
Cause: Gunfire
Patrolman Peter John "Sonny" Burke
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Thursday, October 1, 1970
Cause: Gunfire
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Tuesday, September 24, 1963
Cause: Vehicular assault
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Monday, April 23, 1962
Cause: Gunfire
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Sunday, September 1, 1929
Cause: Assault
Atlantic City Police Department, NJ
EOW: Sunday, April 13, 1890
Cause: Assault
Atlantic City, New Jersey Total Line of Duty Deaths: 9
- Assault 2
- Gunfire 3
- Gunfire (Inadvertent) 1
- Heart attack 1
- Struck by vehicle 1
- Vehicular assault 1
2021 has been a very bad year for police officers being killed nationally in the line of duty. The fatality statistics are as follows:
Total = 427 (up 28 percent versus 2020)
The job of a police officer has never been more difficult or dangerous.
We take this opportunity to thank all public safety officers who protect and serve.
Thank you.
NOTE: The Atlantic City Public Safety Building, located on California and Atlantic Avenues is named The Clayton G. Graham Public Safety Building.
The late Patrolman Clayton Graham died in the line of duty on Monday, April 23, 1962 by gunfire.
SOURCES: Atlantic City Police Department & The Officer Down Memorial Page.
PHOTO CREDITS: Atlantic City Police Department.
South Jersey Police Who Tragically Died in the Line of Duty
When New Jersey Police helped deliver life into the world
Atlantic City's Firsts Throughout History