Detective Albert J. Mallen, Sr. was killed while serving on a narcotics warrant in Westville, New Jersey, on the morning of August 28, 1985. A 36-year-old veteran of the United States Marine Corps and more than 14 years with the New Jersey State Police, Mallen was assigned to the Narcotics Bureau. At about 7:05 a.m., while the team entered a residence on Station Avenue and Mallen was peering around a corner, he was shot in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun; the wound was instantly fatal.

Another officer returned fire and wounded the shooter. The suspect, a 58-year-old man, was taken into custody, later charged and convicted for Detective Mallen’s murder and sentenced to death. The man died of natural causes in 1989 while awaiting execution.

Does anyone have memories of Detective Mallen or information about the operation that morning?