Bloomfield Police Still Remember Officer Killed 100 Years Ago

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — It’s been more than a century since he was killed in the line of duty, but the Bloomfield Police Department still remembers Detective William F. Mertz.

As part of their annual participation in the national Police Unity Tour, which honors fallen officers, the BPD recognized Mertz, who was shot and killed while trying to arrest a murder suspect in December 1915.

“We will never forget the fallen and we honor all those officers that were killed in the line of duty,” the BPD wrote on social media.

According to a New York Times article from 1916, Mertz and East Orange Detective Robert J. Shannon “were killed by Antonio Federici.” Two other officers, Detective David J. Wendel of East Orange and Acting Roundsman William H. Higgins of Glen Ridge, were wounded during the incident.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page here.

Several Essex County police departments participated in this year’s Police Unity Tour alongside Bloomfield. The event honors deceased officers and raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and Museum. The 2018 Police Unity Tour will ended on Saturday at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.

• See related article: Cops Across Essex County Join Bike Tour, Honor Fallen Officers

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Bloomfield Police Department