Patrolman James F. Doherty

Patrolman James F. Doherty | Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey
Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey
Patrolman James F. Doherty

Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey

End of Watch Tuesday, August 1, 1916

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James F. Doherty

Patrolman James Doherty succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier as a result of a massive explosion 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 explosion.

Police Chief Cornelius Leyden, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Police, was also killed in the explosion. Several other workers and civilians were killed and hundreds were injured as a result of the explosion.

It is believed that the explosion was a 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.

Patrolman Doherty was survived by his wife and two children. He was assigned to the Fifth Precinct.

Bio

  • Age 28
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Explosion
  • Incident Date Sunday, July 30, 1916
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I am a relative of Patrolman Doherty. He was my great uncle. Thank you for preserving Uncle James memory and educating people of his service. We speak of him, but it is heart warming to know others also honor his memory. We understand Uncle James was covering another officer's shift when the explosion occurred. An early wave of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 had struck Jersey City. The scheduled officer wanted to remove his family from the city and Uncle James covered his shift to allow him the time away. God Bless all the men and women who serve and protect.

P. J. Jernstedt-Duhaime
great niece

May 9, 2017

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