31st Annual NJ Law Enforcement Memorial Service

MARLTON, N.J. - March 13, 2015 - PRLog -- New Jersey is set to pay tribute to five fallen officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty over the preceding year, as well as the heroes who have been lost over the years. The Law Enforcement Memorial Service, organized by the NJ Police Chiefs Foundation in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies [see below for list], will be held at the historic Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NJ at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. The New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service is open to the public and free to attend.

Celebrate the lives and service of Detective John Scott Stevens, Special Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello, Police Officer Reinaldo Arocha, Jr., Police Officer Christopher M. Goodell and Detective Melvin Santiago at the Law Enforcement Memorial Service. This moving ceremony is the oldest statewide memorial for fallen officers in the nation and features the “Roll Call of Honor” of all New Jersey law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Invited keynote speakers are Governor Chris Christie and Acting Attorney General John Hoffman.

Detective John Scott Stevens, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. End of Watch: Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Detective John Stevens of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office succumbed to injuries sustained two weeks earlier in a single vehicle on Dover Road in Lacey Township. He was working on an undercover assignment and was driving an undercover vehicle when it crossed the center and struck a tree. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he remained until passing away on January 21^st. Detective Stephens had served with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for 15 years and had previously served with the New Jersey State Attorney’s Office for five years. He is survived by his wife and 10-year-old son.

Special Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello, Cliffside Park Police Department. End of Watch: Monday, December 29, 2014. Special Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was struck by a car on Walker Street, near First Street. He and another officer were crossing the street at approximately 6:30 pm when they were both struck by an SUV. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer Petruzzello remained until succumbing to severe head injuries. The other officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was issued several traffic citations in connection with the incident. Officer Petruzzello had served with the Cliffside Park Police Department for only one month after graduating from the police academy. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of police officer.

Police Officer Reinaldo Arocha, Jr., Newark Police Department. End of Watch: Tuesday, September 16, 2014. Police Officer Reinaldo Arocha suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after he and another officer had to subdue an emotionally disturbed person who was being taken into custody. He had returned to his patrol car to complete paperwork when a tow truck driver found him unresponsive near the intersection of North Munn Avenue and Mountainview Avenue at approximately 7:15 am. Responding unites and a nurse performed CPR until he was transported to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later. Officer Arocha had served with the Newark Police Department for 23 years. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Police Officer Christopher M. Goodell, Waldwick Police Department. End of Watch: Thursday, July 17, 2014. Police Officer Chris Goodell was killed when his patrol car was struck by a tractor trailer on Route 17, near Bergen Avenue, shortly before 1:30 am. Officer Goodell was parked on the shoulder of Route 17, running radar, when the semi swerved onto the shoulder and collided with the back of the patrol car. The patrol car was then pushed into a retaining wall. An off duty deputy from out of state was the first to arrive at the collision and immediately began providing aid to Officer Goodell. Officer Goodell was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Waldwick Police Department for five years. He is survived by his fiancée.

Detective Melvin Santiago, Jersey City Police Department. End of Watch: Sunday, July 13, 2014. Detective Melvin Santiago was shot and killed at 4:09 am when he and his partner responded to a robbery call at a 24-hour pharmacy on the corner of Communipaw Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. A male subject had entered the store and assaulted a private security guard. He severely beat the guard and stole his service weapon, then waited for responding officers to arrive with the intention to ambush them. Detective Santiago and his partner had just pulled into the parking lot as the man exited the building and opened fire on them without warning. Detective Santiago was struck in the head before he was able to exit from the patrol car’s passenger seat. Other responding officers returned fire and killed the subject. Detective Santiago had graduated from the academy only six months prior to the incident. He is survived by his mother and stepfather.

Participating Law Enforcement Agencies: NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police, NJ Police Chiefs Foundation, NJ State Police, NJ State Troopers Fraternal Association, NJ State Troopers NCO Association, NJ Fraternal Order of Police, NJ Policemen’s Benevolent Association, NJ County Prosecutors Association, Sheriffs Association of NJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation –Newark Division, FBI National Academy Associates – NJ Chapter, NJ COPS/Garden State Survivors, NJ State Police Survivors of the Triangle, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration – NJ Division, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives – NJ, NJ Police Academy Directors Association, U.S. Attorney’s Office, NJ Office of the Attorney General, NJ Chaplains Association, U.S. Marshals Service, and NJ Department of Corrections.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) is a professional membership organization serving New Jersey’s law enforcement and private security executives. Our core mission is to promote and enhance the highest ethical and professional standards in law enforcement at all levels throughout New Jersey. For more information on NJSACOP or the 31^st Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service, please visit www.njsacop.org.