Plainfield Police Division, New Jersey
End of Watch: Sunday, July 16, 1967
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 84
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: July 16, 1967
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Released from prison
Patrolman John Gleason was beaten to death by a group of youths at a housing complex. Patrolman Gleason was part of a mobilization at the complex as a result of two days of civil unrest.
He was attacked at the intersection of West Second Street and Plainfield Avenue. The subjects took his service revolver and shot him before beating him to death.
The suspects were found guilty of Patrolman Gleason's murder and sent to prison. They were released after serving their sentence.
Patrolman Gleason was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and had served with the Plainfield Police Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife, three children, and sister.