Officer Abigail J. Powlett, a Plainfield Police Division officer with three years’ service, was killed in the line of duty on March 15, 1985. She and another officer had responded to a call about a man with a gun at Meadow Brook Village Apartments on East Front Street. While searching the suspect he resisted, overpowered her, and gained control of her service weapon. The suspect held her on the ground with the gun to her head and then fired a single, fatal shot to her head.

Other officers who had arrived negotiated with the assailant but the situation ended when surrounding officers returned fire and the suspect was fatally wounded at the scene. Powlett was the first female police officer in New Jersey to be killed in the line of duty. She was survived by her mother, daughter, and son, and the restored Plainfield NJ TRANSIT station has been dedicated in her name.

Did anyone in the community know Officer Powlett or have information about her service at the Plainfield Police Division?