Annual remembrance of officers Dailey and Hauptman
Florham Park Police Department
Forty-eight years ago two of Florham Park’s finest police officers paid the ultimate sacrifice serving the residents of the Borough.
On July 17, 1975, both officers were tragically killed when the small plane they were operating crashed while returning to Morristown Airport following a reconnaissance flight. During their return to the airport, the Cessna 150 stalled, clipped a tree, and ultimately crashed on First Street.
Detective Frank A. Dailey was 27 years old and had served with the Florham Park Police Department for 5 years at the time of his death. He had previously served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War and had been awarded the Purple Heart. His name can be found on Panel 13-E Line 2 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.
Patrolman Robert F. Hauptman was 29 years old and had 1 year of service with the Florham Park Police Department at the time of his death. His name can be found on Panel 5-E Line 5 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.
Each year, we honor Det. Dailey and Ptl. Hauptman during our department awards ceremony, we maintain a shadow box in our main hallway as a remembrance to them both, and the roads within the Borough complex have been named after them. In 2021, we welcomed two Honor Chairs which have been placed inside the hallway of the Police Department to serve as private remembrances to each officer as they prepare for their shift the inherent dangers that may come before them as well as the price these two officers paid that came before them.
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