New Jersey State Police, New Jersey
End of Watch Monday, June 11, 1962
Add to My HeroesArthur J. Abagnale, Jr.
Trooper Arthur Abagnale, Trooper Joseph DeFrino, and Trooper Milan Simcak were killed in an automobile accident on the New Jersey Turnpike near the Passaic River Bridge in Kearny.
The troopers were accompanying a dump truck, with red lights flashing and traveling at 15- 20 miles an hour when a bus rounded a curve, hit a car, and then rolled onto the cruiser and pushed it into the truck. The driver of the bus stated that his brakes failed. The troopers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Trooper Abagnale was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the New Jersey State Police for 16 months. He was survived by his father, stepbrother, and fiancee.
Bio
- Age 26
- Tour 1 year, 4 months
- Badge 1671
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Automobile crash
Most Recent Reflection
View all 15 ReflectionsOn this 58th year of yours and your partners untimely departure, I would like to say thank you for your sacrifice and let you know that time will never erase your memory and heroism.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired)
Delaware State Police
June 11, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Hector Cuevas, Jr.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: March 17, 2025

Sergeant Joseph Anthony Azcona
Newark Police Division, NJ
EOW: March 8, 2025

Police Officer Felicia Dee Reilly
Saint Paul Police Department, MN
EOW: March 1, 2025

Deputy Sergeant Martin Shields, Jr.
Hinds County Sheriff's Office, MS
EOW: February 23, 2025

Police Officer Christopher M. L. Reese
Virginia Beach Police Department, VA
EOW: February 22, 2025

Police Officer Cameron Robert Girvin
Virginia Beach Police Department, VA
EOW: February 22, 2025

Patrolman Andrew William Duarte
West York Borough Police Department, PA
EOW: February 22, 2025

Trooper Kyle McAcy
Nebraska State Patrol, NE
EOW: February 17, 2025

Police Officer Jeremy R. Labonte
Roswell Police Department, GA
EOW: February 7, 2025