IN MEMORIAM

CARMIN FUSCELLARO, Jr.

Carmin J. Fuscellaro Jr. was born in Camden on July 11, 1926, the son of a Camden Police officer. He grew up on North 30th Street in Cramer Hill, and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1944. He joined the Camden Police Department on July 17, 1949. Prior to that he served on Camden's emergency squad.

Known to his brother officers as “Fussy”, Sergeant Fuscellaro was very progressive during his 12 year career with the Camden Police Department.. He was instrumental in the formation of the accident investigation unit and heavy duty rescue unit. Once this unit was in operation he turned his attention to the formation of a K-9 unit, of which he was in command of at the time of his death, on February 4, 1961. 

Sergeant Fuscellaro died of shotgun wounds he received during a jail escape, at the old Camden County Jail on the 6^th floor of City Hall, Camden NJ. He was accidentally shot and killed by another officer when he was mistaken for an escaped prisoner. Sergeant Fuscellaro and his canine partner were searching City Hall when the other officer shot him. At the time of the shooting canine officers and the inmates wore the same type of coveralls. He was survived by his wife.     

Camden Courier Post - June 4, 1948

Vet Tries Suicide After Brooding Over Palestine

A 27-year-old Palestine-born veteran of War II attempted suicide today by hanging;. Relatives said he had been brooding over the Palestine situation. Isaac Kosov, 27, who has been living with relatives at 1119 Empire Avenue since his return from Palestine 10 months ago, went to the basement of the home shortly after 6 a. m. today and suspended himself from a joist.

Henry Pinsky, former Camden merchant with whom Kosov, a cousin, was living, heard a noise and went to investigate. He found Kosov hanging and unconscious. He cut the victim down and called police.

Patrolmen Theodore Woods and Carmin Fuscellaro, of the emergency squad, rushed Kosov to Cooper hospital where he was revived and is reported in fair condition. He was placed in an oxygen tent.

According to Mrs. Pinsky, Kosov had been brooding over the Palestine situation since his return to this country. He has a married sister living in Palestine.

During War II. Kosov served with the British navy, and then became an American citizen. Mrs. Pinsky said every time news of Palestine came on the radio, Kosov became morose and brooded for hours.

Sgt. Fuscellaro and the Camden Police K-9 Unit
"Don't Jaywalk"

Click on Image to Enlarge