On a Friday afternoon, March 10, 2023, what began as a routine pedestrian stop for Deptford Township Police Officer Robert Shisler would tragically alter the course of his life. The 27-year-old male officer, a four-year veteran of the force, initiated an encounter with a man on Delsea Drive in Deptford, NJ. That man, later identified as 24-year-old Mitchell Negron Jr., did not comply and instead fled on foot, prompting Officer Shisler to give chase.
The pursuit wound through a residential neighborhood, culminating in a struggle on Doman Avenue. During the altercation, a handgun was produced, and shots were fired. Officer Shisler was struck in the leg, sustaining a severe injury. Despite being wounded, he managed to return fire, fatally shooting Negron, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
There were no arrests as the only suspect in the incident was deceased.
Officer Shisler was rushed to Cooper University Hospital and later transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for specialized care. He underwent multiple surgeries and fought valiantly for nearly two months. The community rallied around him with fundraisers and blood drives, holding onto hope for his recovery. However, complications from the gunshot wound, including gangrene and acute respiratory distress, proved insurmountable. On May 7, 2023, Robert Shisler succumbed to his injuries, having never been released from the hospital. His death marked the first line-of-duty death in the history of the Deptford Township Police Department.
