October 12, 2010 Off-duty NJ officer dies in crash www.privateofficer.com
PALISADES PARK NJ Oct 12 2010 — An off-duty police officer killed in a one-car crash over the weekend was not wearing his seatbelt, according to an accident report released Monday.
Patrolman John Ferraioli, 37, was described by his co-workers as eager to take on safety initiatives. He had revived the department’s DWI checkpoint program that had been defunct for 15 years and earlier this year started working on new traffic patterns to improve safety at school crossings, Ben Ramos, the department’s captain-in-charge, said.
“I’m not talking about one traffic cone, I’m talking about 36 cones and also new portable stop signs,” Ramos said.
Ferraioli, a 15-year veteran of the police department, was driving east on Route 652, a rural road in Damascus Township, Wayne County, Pa., at 12:22 a.m. Saturday when, for unknown reasons, his car crossed a median and struck a tree, the accident report says. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He had been on a weekend trip with some friends, borough officials said.
Ferraioli was described by those who knew him as a dedicated cop who took care of his parents and grandparents, contributed to charities and started new safety programs.
“If you’re looking for one word, it’s ‘hero,’Ÿ” Ramos said.
Ramos broke the news of Ferraioli’s death to his co-workers at a somber meeting Sunday.
“This is just another sad day for the borough,” said Mayor James Rotundo, whose son, James, serves on the same police squad as Ferraioli.
Rotundo said the police department had grief counselors available to the 26-member force on Monday.
“He was an excellent cop, civic-minded, a quiet kid who kept to himself,” said retired Police Chief Michael Vietri, now the borough’s part-time police director. “His mother and father are taking it hard.”
Ramos said Ferraioli also contributed to numerous causes and charities, reeling off cancer, child abuse, diabetes, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
“We, our department, has suffered a serious loss,” Ramos said. “It hurts me, it hurts the department.”
Source:North Jersey.com
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