CINNAMINSON, N.J. (AP) Hundreds police officers, family members and friends have paid their respects to a New Jersey state trooper who was killed when he was struck by a passing motorist.
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A spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, Hope Hicks, did not return calls or emails from NJ Advance Media. A spokesman for the governor declined to say why the governor would not be attending the funeral, or when he would be returning to New Jersey, referring all questions to the Trump campaign. “For the police officer, for the person working on the highway, for everybody’s safety”.
Donald Trump talks to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the CNN GOP presidential debate on December 15.
He was the third state trooper killed in the line of duty in less than a year – a rate rarely seen in the division’s almost-100-year history.
Christie, who has publicly endorsed Trump in his bid for the GOP nod, was in Florida last week for two days for a vacation as New Jersey Transit and its unions negotiated a new contract, just barely avoiding a potentially catastrophic strike.
“May the road rise up to meet you”, said Col. Rick Fuentes, the superintendent of the State Police, quoting the traditional Irish blessing before a Catholic funeral mass at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Cinnaminson.
Christie’s office was contacted, but has not yet returned requests for comment.
State Senators Diane Allen and Anthony Bucco said Friday they will introduce a bill to change the name of the “move over” law to memorialize Sean Cullen. “May Sean rest in peace”, Burgos said in a statement sent to New Jersey 101.5 Monday.
Sean Cullen, 31, died on March 7 while responding to a vehicle fire on I-295, the outlet reported.
Cullen left behind a fiancee, 9-month-old baby boy, his parents, a sister, a brother and an older brother who is also a trooper. Trooper Cullen fulfilled his life-long dream of joining the state police two years ago.
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Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5.
