Badge Number 1
Police Officer Thomas E. Deshazo
On May 22,1930 Police Officer Thomas E. DeShazo became the first Dover Police Officer Killed in the line of duty. While providing a motorcycle escort to Charles Lindberg and his family through the Morris County area. Along with New Jersey State Trooper Ryan and Chief Charles Dibble of the Wharton Police Department. Officer Deshazo an 8 year veteran of the Dover Police Department suffered fatal injuries when he was thrown from his motorcycle. Officer DeShazo succumb to his injuries two days later. Officer DeShazo proudly wore his badge bearing the number 1. As a tribute to Officer DeShazo's memory, no other officer has or ever will be issued that badge number.
Thomas Deshazo is memorialized in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC located at Panel 4 W Line 20
Please visit the Officer Down Memorial at www.odmp.org