Gerald DiJoseph

Gerald T. DiJoseph was a dedicated police officer and a beloved family man, known to friends as "Jerry." A 33-year-old, White / Caucasian male, he had served with the Bridgeport Police Department in Connecticut for nearly twelve years after his appointment on April 2, 1969. He was a husband and the loving father of three young children: sons Jerrod and Matthew, and daughter Danielle. Friends remembered him as a great man with a warm presence and a great smile, who loved his family deeply. Former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch later described him as "a family man who came to work every day and protected the kids and families of Bridgeport." He wore badge number 218.

The day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, November 28, 1980, Officer DiJoseph was on patrol. The afternoon was damp and chilly as his shift neared its end. Around 4 p.m., he conducted what was believed to be a routine traffic stop on James Street, between Harral and Washington Avenues, just two blocks from police headquarters. During the stop, a violent struggle broke out between Officer DiJoseph and the motorist. The driver managed to overpower the officer, gaining control of his service weapon. The assailant then shot Officer DiJoseph in the head before fleeing the scene.

The wounded officer was rushed to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where medical staff made desperate efforts to save his life. Tragically, his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at 5:26 p.m. The death of Officer DiJoseph, the last Bridgeport police officer to be killed in the line of duty, sent shockwaves through the city and his department. He was laid to rest in St. Michael's Cemetery in nearby Stratford.

The Bridgeport Police Department launched an extensive homicide investigation. For seven months, the suspect remained at large. The break in the case came when an officer with the New York City Police Department apprehended a suspect following a vehicle pursuit. This individual was subsequently charged with the murder of Officer DiJoseph and brought back to Connecticut to stand trial. However, the path to justice proved elusive for the DiJoseph family and the Bridgeport community. On February 9, 1987, more than six years after the murder, the accused was found not guilty. No one else has ever been charged in connection with the killing.

In the decades since his death, the memory of Officer Gerald DiJoseph has been kept alive by his family, his department, and the city he served. His children and grandchildren continue to post loving remembrances, writing, "We miss you just as much today as the day you were taken from us. You are in our hearts and on our minds always." The department has held moments of silence on the anniversary of his death. In December 2016, 36 years after his murder, city officials, police, and family members gathered for a ceremony to rename a portion of James Street as "Officer Gerald T. DiJoseph Way."

At the dedication, then-Police Chief AJ Perez said, "It is an unfortunate reality that as Police Officers we put on our uniform every morning not knowing if we will return home... It is important that we never forget Officer DiJoseph or any officer who made the ultimate sacrifice for us." Mayor Joe Ganim added that the renamed street "serves as a reminder of his heroism and of the respect we have as a city for all officers who have given their lives to protect the citizens of the city." The memorials have continued; in May 2024, the Bridgeport Police Department dedicated a new police boat in honor of their fallen officer, with his family present for the ceremony. As of that date, the murder of Officer Gerald T. DiJoseph remains officially unsolved.