The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 24, Number 5 | Page 4

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2018
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
CHIEF GARY C. GUBBEI
MAPLE SHADE PD
An Event to Remember—To Ensure We Never Forget
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and the New Jersey Police Chiefs Foundation are once again
hosting the annual statewide Law Enforcement Memorial Service for police officers who have died in the performance
of their duties in the State of New Jersey. On this day we honor the heroes who have given their lives so
courageously. We pay tribute and remember valiant men and women and reflect on their contributions to our state
and our communities.
The Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 beginning at 11:00 a.m.
As is customary, our Attorney General will present remarks on behalf of law enforcement throughout our state. As
President of the NJSACOP, I have the great privilege of presiding over the service and serving as master of
ceremonies.
The co-sponsors of this program are the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association,
New Jersey State Troopers NCO Association, New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, New Jersey Policemen’s
Benevolent Association, New Jersey’s County Prosecutors Association, New Jersey’s Sheriffs Association, Federal
Bureau of Investigation-Newark Division, FBI National Academy Associates-New Jersey Chapter, New Jersey Office of
the Attorney General, New Jersey COPS/Garden State Survivors, New Jersey State Police Survivors of the Triangle,
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-New Jersey Division, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives-New Jersey, New Jersey Police Academy Directors Association, United States Attorney’s Office, New
Jersey Chaplains Association , United States Marshals Service, New Jersey Department of Corrections.
This tribute was the first Memorial Service of its kind in the United States. As always, we hold this service at the
National Historic Site of the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. This magnificent 5,500-seat auditorium is
most fitting for our Memorial Service not only for its spiritual significance, but also for its sense of history and
inspiration throughout its century of existence.
This year, it is our solemn duty to add Summit Police Department Detective Matthew Lawrence Tarentino and
Montclair State University Police Department Sergeant Christopher Vidro to the roll of honor.
All Chiefs are encouraged to attend this important and moving service and to encourage and enable as many of your
officers as possible to attend as well. We appreciate the color guards and pipe and drum units that participate each
year, but we also need a large audience. I suggest that each and every Chief attend the Memorial and bring with
him or her four (or more) people from his or her department. This is a tribute to our fallen. It’s important to their
families to see that they have the sympathy and support of the entire law enforcement community.
In addition to the families of the survivors, the service is open to law enforcement officers and police families, friends
and the public at large. As all who have ever attended this program can attest, this is a special day for those of us in
New Jersey’s law enforcement family.
Now, more than ever, your support of your colleagues in law enforcement is critical – and appreciated. We look
forward to seeing you in Ocean Grove.
Chief Gary C. Gubbei
NJSACOP President
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