Trooper II Philip Joseph Lamonaco, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey

Trooper II Philip Joseph Lamonaco

New Jersey State Police, New Jersey

End of Watch Monday, December 21, 1981

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Philip Joseph Lamonaco

Trooper Philip Lamonaco was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Knowlton Township on Interstate 80.

The incident occurred when he stopped two members of a radical environmental group known as the United Freedom Front on I-80. The suspects robbed banks to fund their radical operations, which included bombing energy sites.

Trooper Lamonaco had disarmed one suspect when the other opened fire hitting him nine times. Trooper Lamonaco managed to return fire, wounding the shooter. Trooper Lamonaco was found face down in the snow by a passing motorist and died in a hospital a short time later.

The suspect's bullet-riddled car was found six miles away, along with the blood stains of the shooter and both suspects' fingerprints. The shooter was apprehended, convicted of murder and several bombings, and sentenced to death. He died in prison in 2005. The other suspect was apprehended on April 24, 1985, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life plus 58 years for bombing convictions. He died in prison on July 31, 2019.

On July 19, 1983, Lieutenant Lester Pagano was killed in an automobile accident while investigating Trooper Lamonaco's murder. Lieutenant Pagano had finished following up on leads in reference to the case when the accident occurred.

Trooper Lamonaco was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and had served with the New Jersey State Police for 11 years. He was named Trooper of The Year in 1979. He is survived by his wife and three children. His son serves with the New Jersey State Police.

A seven-mile portion of I-80 was renamed and dedicated in Trooper Lamonaco's memory.

Bio

Age 32
Tour 11 years
Badge 2663
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; 9 mm
Offender Died in prison

traffic stop

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Most Recent Reflection

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As a lifelong resident of New Jersey and a former police officer who retired after 26 years in June 2022 from a municipal police agency in New Jersey, I was only 13 years old when Trooper Lamonaco was murdered.

Probably the best story I’ve ever heard about Trooper Phil Lamonaco was not about Phil Lamonaco the trooper, but Phil Lamonaco the man. He was a faithful Catholic and devoted husband and father of three children. As John Stark mentions in his book Troopers Behind the Badge, Phil had been assigned to a new duty station. Some of his buddies asked him if he wanted to go out drinking. Phil said, “Well, can I bring my wife?” To their astonishment, they said, “Uh, I guess so.” Pretty soon, all of his buddies were bringing their wives. And, as has been true throughout all of history, when we men are in the company of the gentler sex, we sit up straighter, clean up our language, and act more like the good, moral men of virtue that God intended us to be.

I’ve prayed for the repose of the soul of Philip Lamonaco and offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for him. One day, I hope to see him in Heaven with our Lord, our Lady, His angels, and His saints, for all eternity. May he rest in peace.

Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Don Whicker

December 25, 2024