Florham Park Officers Killed In Plane Crash Remembered 42 Years Later

FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Two Florham Park police officers killed in an airplane crash in the line of duty are being remembered 42 years after the tragic accident with a 24-hour flame outside police headquarters.

Beginning at midnight Monday morning, a flame will burn for 24-hours outside of police headquarters to remember Detective Francis A. Dailey and Patrolman Robert F. Hauptman, who died on this day in 1975.

From the Florham Park Police Department:

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 searching for marijuana crop. During their return to the airport, the Cessna 150 stalled and then clipped a tree and crashed on First Street.

Detective Daily 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 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

Image via Florham Park Police