In Memoriam
An undeniable spirit
Multiple departments remember Sergeant Peter Kamper Jr. for his community connection
Moore’ s Funeral Home in Wayne quickly reached its maximum building capacity on the morning of Aug. 12 as thousands of loved ones gathered to honor Sergeant Peter Jay“ P. J.” Kamper Jr. from Pompton Lakes Local 161.
Kamper, who served as State Delegate for Pompton Lake Local 161, was tragically thrown from his motorcycle after he collided with a deer on Lakeside Avenue in Pompton Lakes.
Pompton Lakes Mayor Michael Serra described Kamper’ s personality, as quoted on NorthJersey. com:“ When you sat and talked to him for a while, he had a great personality. Him along with all my other officers in Pompton Lakes spend a lot of time trying to be involved in community policing … All the officers, especially Pete, took that very seriously.”
Dozens of officers from multiple locals came to support their fellow brother. In fact, so many attendees were present that the funeral directors set up a loudspeaker so everyone could hear.
In Memoriam Sergeant Peter Jay Kamper Jr.
Pompton Lakes Local 161
Some of the speakers at Kamper’ s service included Christine, his wife of two years, and his brother Michael.
“ You knew once the first beer can was opened that all was well,” Michael recalled, per NorthJersey. com. More seriously, he concluded,“ Pass on Pete’ s gift of helping anyone in need.”
After graduating from Wayne Hills High School, Kamper worked for the Township of Wayne in the water department. He then eventually followed his father and his uncle into the field of law enforcement, joining the Pompton Lakes department in 2004.
Kamper was specifically known for being a firearms instructor and being an avid supporter of the Special Olympics. Because of this, Kamper’ s family asks that all donations be made to the Special Olympics of New Jersey.
It’ s clear that Sergeant Kamper made an impact on his community, and he will be missed by many officers around the state. d
Community hero gone too soon
It was clear that Union City Local 8 officer John Kamel truly cared about his community. It showed in the way he would knock on doors in the neighborhoods he patrolled, simply to check in with residents and see if they needed anything. The 26-year-old officer made the people of Union City feel safe and cared for.
But on July 26, Kamel was killed in a tragic motorcycle crash on his way to work, leaving Union City to mourn the loss of a third member of their Local since December.
Hundreds of officers lined the streets outside Eastern Christian Church in Jersey City on Aug. 2 to salute their fallen brother, who truly made a difference in the community. Kamel was driving his motorcycle to work on the northbound lanes of Kennedy Boulevard near 22nd Street when the multi-vehicle accident took place.
The son of two Egyptian immigrants, Kamel worked in law
56 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ AUGUST 2017 enforcement for four years, doing community policing during the 7-p. m.-to-3-a. m. shift for Local 8. Union City Police Chief Richard Molinari spoke highly of Kamel’ s commitment to law enforcement during the service. He also shared that Kamel now joins Officer Ricardo Fernandez and Sergeant Mark Zeitounian, two other Local 8 members who passed away in the last eight months.
“ To John, I say to you, please say hello to Ricky and Mark for us,” Molinari said at the church.“ Tell them we think about them often. Rest easy, Police Officer John Kamel.”
In Memoriam
As Kamel’ s casket was carried into the
Officer John Kamel hearse following the funeral service, a Union City Local 8 touching farewell message was broadcast over speakers in the area before escorting the officer to Arlington Cemetery in Kearny.
“ Officer Kamel has gone home. Your tour is over. Go with God. We’ ve got it from here.” d