COURT HOUSE — May 10, Law Enforcement Memorial Day was marked in Cape May County by a solemn tribute to six fallen officers and a local corrections officer, slain in the line of duty.
A contingent of 203 riders and 37 support riders from the Police Unity Tour joined the county tribute, hosted by the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association at the county Police Training Academy.
A plaque was dedicated to the memory of Corrections Officer Frederick Baker of Rio Grande, by Chief Thomas DePaul, president, Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association. Baker was killed by an inmate on July 30, 1997.
Other officers memorialized were:
Officer Harry E. Shore, Ocean City Police Department,
Chief Philip DeSantis, Woodbine Borough Police Department
Officer Michael Cullinane Sr., Sea Isle City Police Department
Officer Davis C. Douglass Sr., Lower Township Police Department
Officer Eugene Miglio, Wildwood Crest Police Department
Trooper Bertram Zimmerman, New Jersey State Police, Troop A Tactical Patrol Unit
Those officers were remembered with salutes by members of five recruit classes at the police academy including:
35th Basic Course for Police Officers
42nd Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers
43rd Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers
63rd Class I High School Special Law Enforcement Officers
65th Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers
Wreathes were placed by members of the Cape May County Police Academy, Cape-Atlantic Police and Fire Irish Pipe Brigade, Cape May County PBA Local 59, Ocean City PBA Local 61 and Cape May County FOP.
Cape May County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Coast Guard ceremonial details were present. The Coast Guard musician played”Taps.”
Members of the Pipe Brigade performed “Amazing Grace” as members placed wreathes.
Pastor Scott Durban of Cape Fellowship Church led the invocation and Benediction.
Speakers included:
Frank Geist, represented U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd).
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) and Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak (D-1st)
Prosecutor Robert Taylor
Sheriff Gary Schaffer
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton and Vice Director Leonard Desiderio.
Sea Isle City – Why are we paying two construction officials hundreds of thousands of salaries and they can’t even have buildings that are destroyed by a fire demolished in a timely manner. It’s been 7 months. We…
