The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2021
Continued from previous page Luis Andujar Corrections Officer Cumberland Cty . Corrections , EOW : 1 / 22 / 2021
Brian K . McAdams , Sr . Detective Newark PD , EOW : 1 / 22 / 2021
Matthew D . Razukas Lieutenant New Jersey State Police , EOW : 7 / 27 / 2021
Richard T . McKnight Police Aide Newark PD , EOW : 8 / 11 / 2021
Gerard Eick Agent Ocean Cty . Prosecutor ’ s Office , EOW : 9 / 27 / 2021
Remarks of NJSACOP President Chief John Zebrowski at the NJ Covid-19 Law Enforcement Memorial Service
Good morning , and thank you General for this invitation . It is my great honor to be here .
On behalf of the NJSACOP , I would like to extend our collective condolences to each of the families of those officers who are being remembered today .
My agency and I have been very fortunate . Although we have experienced our share of COVID related illnesses the symptoms have been relatively minor to moderate , thus far . We continue to do all we can to keep our officers informed while looking out for their well-being and that of their families . There ’ s never a day that we don ’ t ask ourselves “ is there more we can do .”
I have experienced the loss of an officer and know what it ’ s like to meet with the officer ’ s family after the loss . And in that moment there was great pain . But , in that moment we found both solace and strength in the sharing of both grief and the burdens that manifested immediately afterwards . Yet , there remains guilt and anguish and the question as to whether we could have done more . A question we continue to struggle to answer .
Perhaps , these feelings of helplessness are even more pronounced when the adversary is one neither seen , nor fully understood . Such as COVID .
The men and women we remember here today went above and beyond in their acts of bravery during the darkest days our world has faced . Their sacrifice and commitment to their communities and our State can never fully be repaid . These officers faced a danger never seen before on a scale never imaged . An invisible virus impacted the entire world , and while most people were able to shelter in safety , these officers would answer the call to serve on the frontlines of this battle .
These fathers , mothers , partners , sons and daughters are true heroes . Their loss is deeply felt within our families , our communities and police departments throughout the State . Their courage shall never be forgotten .
There is no true comfort in the loss of a loved one . But , in some small way I believe there is both resilience and peace in our sharing of this moment and the knowledge we are not alone in the burdens we carry and try to answer the question : what more could we do ?
Thank you and God bless you always .
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