Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer Gottfried,
On today, the 40th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the USN during WW II as a crew member on the aircraft carrier USS Randolph(CV 15) fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds And Following Seas

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

November 28, 2020

Rest in peace Officer Gottfried.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 4, 2020

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES... There isn’t many that will ever understand the belly of the beast until you’ve made your way to the South.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

- 123rd.

Southward.
Newark Police Department.

July 15, 2019

Officer Gottfried,
On today, the 37th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the USN during WW II as a crew member on the aircraft carrier USS Randolph(CV 15) fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds And Following Seas

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

November 28, 2017

He will be Uncle Johnny to so many

Nancy LeMassena Falzarano
frien

December 21, 2013

John and his wife, Celie, had no children but were part of all of our holiday get togethers at my grandmother's house on Voorhees Street. I was devastated when I heard of his death. I am not a blood relative but have memories of years of happy times with him and my family.

Nancy LeMassena Falzarano
friend

December 21, 2013

My heart goes out to John's family. What a brave officer.

My father, who went to deposit his paycheck, walked in on this armed bank robbery sometime after they had killed John. My dad was forced to the ground by one of the robbers/killers and luckily (amazingly) was not harmed.

n/a

March 27, 2013

Your heroism and service is honored today, the thirty-first anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, PPD, eow 4/24/05

November 28, 2011

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in Newark is attempting to locate members of the Gottfried family, please contact us at your earliest convenience, thank you.

Jim Stewart
Newark FOP

June 3, 2010

On January 18, 2010 my grandson and I met with Dan Santos
of the Newark FOP Museum. We gave Dan Uncle Johnnie's
yearbook from the USS Randolph. Johnny served in the U.S.
Navy during World War II. He will now be added to the Veteran's Section of the Museum.

We really enjoyed the informative tour that we were given
by Dan Santos.

Jerome D. Gibbons
Nephew

January 22, 2010

Uncle Johnny loved to visit my home in Belleville, NJ, and
play with my children on every major holiday. He and Aunt
Ceil spent Thanksgiving Day 1980 at my home. The next day
I was awakened by a telephone call informing me of Uncle Johnny's death in the bank robbery. We helped Aunt Ceil
with grocery shopping and doctor visits. After a stroke,
and a broken leg, she lived with us until her death in 1995. I remember when Johnny first became a Police Officer,
and he walked the night beat on Mulberry Street. He later
transferred to the Emergency Squad, and I thought he would
be working in a safer environment, until that day when he entered a bank to cash a check. He always had a joke, and
we still miss him.

Jerome D. Gibbons
Nephew

August 5, 2009

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

April 15, 2008

Officer Gottfried,

Thank you for your service to the citizens of New Jersey. Your actions that day may have saved dozens of lives in that bank. You are a true hero in every meaning of the word. Rest easy sir, you will never be forgotten.

TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

April 11, 2008

He was my "Uncle Johnny." I was in high school when he died.
The news of his death saddened our family beyond words.
Uncle Johnny spent most holidays with us. As a kid I played guitar with him, sang songs with him, went for ice cream, and mostly laughed in his presence. I could not wait for him and his wife, Aunt Ceil, to come to our house.
He truly was a wonderful man who was taken from us in a horrific way. I still to this day have a bottle of his home made wine-"Uncle Johnny's wine" It is one of my most treasured items.
We miss him still, but we never forget what a kind and funny man he was.

Molly Fisher
niece

January 14, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 12, 2007

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

vandenberghe
manchester, nh

November 28, 2007

A true hero you are.....rest in peace my brother, your actions will never be forgotten.

Kevin T Ryan
Ex- New Jersey Cop

November 28, 2007

We here at the Newark Police Museum will keep your memory alive forever. Thank you for your faithful and dedicated service and rest in peace.

Curator Edward J. Dalley, Sr.
Newark Police Museum

July 22, 2006

Uncle Johnny,
This is how many people called him. My son Jimmy is named James Patrick John Montague after him. My wife was pregnant with him at the time of his death. He never had kids with Aunt Ceil but we felt like his kids. He was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor and great with kids. We miss him terribly as well as Aunt Ceil. All our love Uncle Johnny.

jim montague
nephew

September 13, 2005

I remember hearing about Officer Gottfried's death. I heard that he stood up to the gunmen in the bank and did not back down one inch. He is a true credit to law enforcement and his family should be proud of his sacrifice.

Newark Police Department

March 7, 2004

To the family and friends of this brave officer. I have just completed the new web site for the Fraternal Order of Police Newark Lodge#12 and would like to take a moment to thank all of these men for giving me one of the most spiritual experiences in my life. I felt that each and every one of these officers were at my side guiding me to the completion of the sites "In Memory Of..." page. God Bless and Thank You!

Tom Tortorici
AJ Projections

February 19, 2004

God bless you for your bravery and sacrifice. Your loss will never be forgotten by those who have joined the family of Law Enforcement.

Anonymous

November 4, 2003