By: Dennis Beyer
The first Officer to lose his life in the line of duty in my home City of Newark, N.J. was Officer Maxwell Badgely. He was murdered in Police HQ by a prisoner.
The first five letters of his name really caught my eye: "B A D G E." As a result I just had to investigate his death.
My research reveals that he was transporting prisoners on the lower level of Police HQ. There were "four bad guys" in the group he was leading, with two additional officers bringing up the rear. The criminals were "cuffed" two by two, and hand to hand. That was not sufficient restraint.
One of the bad guys somehow had a knife, or other type of pointed weapon on his person. The fatal opportunity presented itself, when the prisoners turned a corner, and the "bad guy" stabbed Officer Badgely. The Officer immediately yelled for help.
The other officers found Badgely, and the "six inch knife" that had been used to stab the Police Officer in the chest. The prisoners attempted to escape, but did not get far as one fell. That prevented the restrained inmates from making a get away.
Officer Badgely was able to identify the prisoner, who stabbed him, before passing away at the age of fifty. This incident occurred October 23, 1854. It was the First Death in the Line of Duty for the Newark Police Dept.
The pictured Badge above was the same type in use by Newark Police during the year of the attack on Max Badgely. This one sits on my desk in a nice Silver & Blue frame.
The "Star" is the treasured piece of my collection. Unfortunately it also presents a daily reminder of the first Line of Duty death in the N.P.D.
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