In Memoriam
Farewell Trooper Williams
New Jersey remembers the rookie who
inspired like a seasoned veteran
Williams’ dream was always
More than a thousand law ento be a New Jersey State Troopforcement officers from eight
er – one he achieved in January
states joined New Jersey top electafter graduating from the acaded officials, Atlantic City Mayor
emy’s 156th class. He was asDon Guardian and NJ State Posigned to the Port Norris Station
lice Superintendent Rick Fuentes
in Cumberland County.
on Dec. 12 to remember Trooper
At 31, he was almost a deFrankie Williams.
cade older than most of the reAn overwhelming contingent
cruits in his class, but he had no
overwhelmed the Atlantic City
trouble handling the physical
Boardwalk to pay tribute to the
demands of the academy and
trooper who was killed on Dec. 5 in
emerged as a standout in other
a head-on collision while on patrol
areas because of his educationon Route 55 in Millville –a dangeral background.
ous stretch of roadway that’s seen
Williams had earned an Asat least a dozen fatal accidents this
sociate’s degree from Atlantic
year according to the NJ State PoCape Community College and
lice. A five-rows-deep regiment of
an undergraduate degree from
hundreds of law enforcement offiRutgers University-Camden. He
cers presented a statuesque showwas two semesters shy of earning of respect by standing at attening a Master’s degree focusing
tion for more than half an hour as
on forensics and data analysis
a cold rain fell upon the mourners.
in policing from Rutgers-CamAfter all, as Fuentes recognized,
den at the time of his death.
“We are a family. And supporting
In August, not long after earnone another is a family tradition.”
ing his badge, Williams notably
During the funeral that took
rescued a small Salem County
place at Boardwalk Hall – believed
dog that had been locked in a
to be the first funeral ever held
hot car and was suffering from
in the main arena in its 90-year
severe heat stroke. The trooper
history – images from Williams’
smashed the car window with
wedding were shown on the giant
his baton and took the dog to a
scoreboard screen. He had marNew Jersey State Police
shaded area and doused it with
ried Kimberly this past fall.
water to cool it down.
William’s
mother,
Victoria,
End of Watch: December 5, 2016
“He performed his duty more
thanked the service’s attendees,
like a six-year veteran than a
saying, “Frankie was my gift, my
six-month rookie,” noted a rehero, my love. I thank you all so
membrance post on the division’s Facebook page following
much for loving my child.”
the funeral.
And he was loved – by friends, family and colleagues alike.
Other accolades and consolations came via statements on
“The division lost an exemplary young trooper with the
social media from Senator Robert Menendez who said Wilpromise of a great career,” added Fuentes. “A family lost an