Fallen Officers
In Memory of Those Officers Who Died
in the Line of Duty in Burlington County
‘We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice’
Patrolman George Gusrand
Burlington City Police Department
On December 3, 1907. Patrolman Gusrand responded to a reported burglary. He was shot and killed during a foot chase. The suspect committed suicide during the manhunt.
Patrolman Thomas Rogan
Burlington City Police Department
Patrolman Rogan was shot and killed on July 4th, 1914 by a suspect later arrested and charged with Manslaughter.
Warden William Harry King
Burlington County Sheriff's Department
Warden King was killed on November 11, 1920, when a prisoner in the jail pretended to be sick. As the warden went to give him some medicine, he was struck a number of times with a poker used in the fireplace.
Sergeant John Divers
New Jersey State Police
On January 19, 1930, an open sore on Sergeant Divers’ finger came into contact with contaminated blood from a person he was arresting. An infection developed causing him to be hospitalized in mid-April and he died on May 2, 1930.
Sergeant Divers served 8 years and 1 month with the New Jersey State Police. He was survived by his wife. Sergeant Divers was 35 years old.
Frank A. Trainor
New Jersey State Police
At approximately 6:00 A.M. on August 3, 1953, Sergeant Trainor had pulled-over a vehicle traveling south on the New Jersey Turnpike, 15 miles south of Bordentown. As he was returning to his troop car after securing the driver's license and registration, Sergeant Trainor was struck by a 1953 Mack Truck. Sergeant Trainor's body flew over the roof of the car he had pulled-over and landed face-down in the shoulder of the road. He suffered a fractured left leg, fractured ribs, fractured spine and a fractured skull. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Trooper George R. Dancy Jr.
New Jersey State Police
On May 28, 1956 at 9:25 P.M., Trooper Dancy was traveling along Route 38 south in Mt. Laurel. An unknown vehicle made a left turn from Route 38 into Hartford Road, cutting the corner sharply. In doing so, it apparently crossed into the path of Trooper Dancy's troop car, causing him to collide with another vehicle. Trooper Dancy received a brush burn on his left cheek, a fractured collar bone, a laceration of his left side and internal injuries. Trooper Dancy was taken to Burlington County Hospital in Mt. Holly, where he died from internal injuries. He served 1 year and 6 months with the New Jersey State Police and was survived by his wife and his 3 year old daughter. He was 23 years old.
Patrolman George Clayton Ayers
Moorestown Police Department
Patrolman Ayers was on routine patrol on January 28th, 1958 while going around a bend in the road, his patrol car struck a tree. Patrolman Ayers had just over a year of service with the Moorestown Police Department. He was 35 years old, survived by his wife and three young children.
Patrolman Walter Kotch
Florence Township Police Department
On April 15th, 1965 Patrolman Kotch was escorting a funeral procession when his patrol car was hit on the driver's side door. Patrolman Kotch suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.
Patrolman Kotch was a six year veteran of the Florence Police Department. He was 29 years old, survived by his wife Joan, son Christopher and daughter Pamela.
Trooper Anthony Lukis
New Jersey State Police
At 1:40 A.M. on May 4 , 966 Trooper Lukis stopped behind a vehicle that was parked at milepost 45 on the northbound shoulder of the New Jersey Turnpike in Westampton. Trooper Lukis struggled with another man between the Troop car and the parked car which resulted in Trooper Lukis behing shot six times in the back and back of the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was survived by his wife, three sons, ages 2, 4 and 6, two daughters ages 8 and 3 months.
Officer William C. Wurst
Hainesport Township Police Department
On March 28th, 1975 Officer William C. Wurst along with Patrolman Donald Aleshire of the Mount Holly Police Department were shot and killed by a sniper. Officer John Holmes, also of the Mount Holly Police Department, was wounded during the same incident and suffered paralyzing injuries. He died 17 years later from his injuries suffered that day.
Officer Wurst was a two year veteran of the Hainesport Police Department. He also was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was 24 years old, survived by his parents, sister and twin brother.
Donald R. Aleshire
Mount Holly Township Police Department
On March 28th, 1975 Patrolman Donald Aleshire along with Officer William C. Wurst of the Hainesport Police Department were shot and killed by a sniper. Officer John Holmes, also of the Mount Holly Police Department, was wounded during the same incident and suffered paralyzing injuries. He died 17 years later from his injuries suffered that day.
Patrolman Aleshire had only been with the Mount Holly Police Department three months after serving with the Philadelphia Police Department. He was 30 years old, survived by his expectant wife and daughter.
Thomas C. Whitelock
Riverton Borough Police Department
On January 14th, 1976 Patrolman Whitelock responded to a second floor apartment in Riverton to investigate the report of a naked suicidal man with a knife that was attempting to cut his throat. Patrolman Whitelock arrived on location and requested back up. A Palmyra Borough police officer was off-duty and responded in his own personal vehicle to back up Patrolman Whitelock. Once both officers were on location they were met in the living room by the naked suspect holding a knife, he had cut his genitals and was attempting to cut his throat. The blood covered suspect ran down the back fire escape and was tackled by both officers. Patrolman Whitelock managed to get one handcuff on the suspect. At this point, the suspect ripped Patrolman Whitelock's .357 Colt Phython from its holster and shot the other officer once in the chest. The suspect then shot Patrolman Whitelock in the chest, killing him. Patrolman Norcross then discharged his Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic hitting the suspect all seven times point blank in the chest killing him.
Over 2,000 officers attended Patrolman Whitelock's funeral. They walked over two miles from the funeral home to the cemetery in a heavy snowstorm to pay their respects.
Patrolman Whitelock was a seven year veteran and the first Riverton Police Officer to die in the line of duty. He was 30 years old.
Officer Whitelock will forever be remembered with our in town monument and memorial in our police lobby.
Sergeant Francis X Fullerton Sr.
Moorestown Police Department
On April 3, 1979 several gunman robbed a store in a neighboring county. The resulting high-speed pursuit ended with the suspects crashing their car in Moorestown. The suspects then fled on foot. Sergeant Fullerton along with other officers began searching the area. Sgt. Fullerton located one of the suspects and a gunfight ensued. Sergeant Fullerton was mortally wounded and died two months later on June 1st, 1979.
The suspects were all apprehended and sent to prison.
Sergeant Fullerton was a 24 year veteran of the Moorestown Police Department and was 48 years old, survived by two sons. One of his sons, Francis Jr. was in the police academy at the time of the incident.
Patrolman John O. Holmes
Mount Holly Township Police Department
On March 28th, 1975 Officer John Holmes was shot by sniper and suffered paralyzing injuries. On July 22, 1992, 17 years after the incident, he died from his injuries. Patrolman Donald Aleshire along with Officer William C. Wurst of the Hainesport Police Department were shot and killed by the sniper on that day.
Patrolman Holmes was survived by his wife and son.
