National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Police Officer

Memorial Panel: 7-E: 8

Department: Rahway, New Jersey, P.D.

End of Watch: November 28, 1958

Cause: SHOT

Age: 29

Years of Service: 3

Description: Officer Bernoski was shot three times in the head and chest when he confronted two men robbing a car dealership. The case remained unsolved until an arrest was made in 1999. The suspect, who has been incarcerated since 1975, serving a 98 year sentence for another murder, was acquitted of murdering Officer Bernoski in 2001. However, this did not prevent Officer Bernoski's spouse, Elizabeth, from winning a settlement in a civil lawsuit against the suspect.