Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Friday, March 21, 1924
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 21, 1924
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Martin Gaffeney was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary of several rail cars in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
He was stationed in an area off of Whitehead Road where several burglaries had taken place recently. Patrolman Gaffeney came upon a lookout for the thieves and as he began to question him, the man fired three shots, striking Patrolman Gaffeney once in the heart. The suspect fled the scene with his accomplices. The incident was witnessed by a railroad employee.
The suspect died of natural causes in a New Jersey State Prison, June 20th, 1927 while serving a sentence for forgery, and while under indictment and awaiting trial for the murder of Patrolman Gaffeney.,