CREST HAVEN – May 10 was observed as Cape May County Law Enforcement Memorial Day with a ceremony at the Public Safety Training ground.
Wreaths were placed near monuments by police officers representing PBA Local 59, PBA Local 401, PBA Local 61 and Cape May County FOP.
The roll call of the fallen was conducted by members of the 42nd Basic Course for Police Officers, 51st Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers and 72nd Class I Special Law Enforcement Officers.
Those Police Academy recruits named six officers who “made the supreme sacrifice while protecting the people of Cape May County.”
Those officers 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 David C. Douglass Sr., Lower Township Police Department
Officer Eugene Miglio, Wildwood Crest Pollice Department
Trooper Bertram Zimmerman, New Jersey Sate Police, Troop “A” Tactical Patrol Unit.
Speakers at the event included Chief Christopher Leusner, president, Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association, and Pastor Scott Durban, Cape Fellowship Church.
Also, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, Vice-Director Leonard Desiderio, Sen. Jeff Van Drew, Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak, Assemblyman Bruce Land, County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, Undersheriff Robert Nolan, and Michael Francis, veterans’ liaison, from U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s office.
The three-round volley was fired by the Coast Guard Training Center Ceremonial Detail, and “Taps” was played.
Cape-Atlantic Police and Fire Irish Pipe Brigade provided bagpipers and the County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard stood by the monuments.