Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Sunday, July 30, 1916
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Explosion
Date of Incident: July 30, 1916
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Chief of Police Cornelius Leyden and Patrolman James Doherty, of the Jersey City Police Department, were killed as a result of massive explosions on barges carrying munitions at Black Tom Island in Jersey City, New Jersey's, New York Harbor. Parts of New York City and Jersey City were heavily damaged as a result of the explosions.
Several workers and civilians were killed and hundreds more were injured.
It is believed that the explosions were the result of German sabotage preceding WWI. As a result, Germany paid reparations to those affected by the explosion from the end of WWII until 1979.
Chief Leyden was survived by his wife and three sons.