New Jersey State Police, New Jersey
End of Watch: Monday, August 13, 1973
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 2141
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: August 13, 1973
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Detective Thomas Dawson was killed in a one-car automobile crash on State Highway 130 while working undercover.
Shortly after 11:00 pm, Detective Dawson was driving south when his vehicle went out of control and struck two trees.
Detective Dawson had served with the New Jersey State Police for almost 7 years, assigned to the Narcotics Bureau Central Unit. He was survived by his wife, two sons, mother, father, and brother. One of his sons became a trooper with the New Jersey State Police.