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United States > New Jersey > New Jersey State Police > Trooper Werner Foerster

Trooper

Werner Foerster

New Jersey State Police, New Jersey

End of Watch: Wednesday, May 2, 1973

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 34

Tour: 3 years

Badge # 2608

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 5/2/1973

Weapon: Officer's handgun

Suspect: At large

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Trooper Werner Foerster was shot and killed with his own weapon after stopping a female on the New Jersey Turnpike. His partner was wounded in the shootout. The two suspects were members of the Black Liberation Army. Both suspects were convicted of Trooper Foerster's murder, but the female suspect escaped from prison in 1979 with outside help and fled to Cuba where she has remained at large.

An accomplice who helped the second suspect escape was placed on the FBI 10 most wanted list in 1982 and was arrested in 1986 for his involvement in killing two Nyack Policemen in 1981.

Trooper Foerster had been a member of the New Jersey State Police Department for almost 3 years. He is survived by his wife and two children and is buried in Beth Abraham Cemetery, East Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

The Route 18 overpass on the New Jersey Turnpike was dedicated the Werner Foerster Overpass in his honor.

The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers around the country. They were also responsible for violent attacks around the country that left many police officers wounded.

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