Special Mass for fallen officers to honor Deptford's Officer Shisler

Joseph P. Smith, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
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NEWARK — A Deptford Township police officer fatally wounded on duty is among a dozen deceased law enforcement members being remembered on Thursday at the annual “Blue Mass” of the Archdiocese of Newark.

Officer Robert Shisler was wounded in a March 10 incident that began with a traffic stop. Shisler died on May 7 at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. He was 27.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin will preside over the Mass, first held 30 years ago. Representatives of federal, state, county, and municipal departments and agencies are invited to attend.

More: Shisler Strong: Community says goodbye to fallen Deptford officer

More: Injured Deptford police officer 'still fighting' after being shot on duty

Officers who died in the line of duty include, besides Shisler: Bayonne police Captain Paul Jamolawicz; Port Authority Officer Anthony Varvaro; U.S. Customs Supervisor Jacqueline Montanaro; Timothy Sullivan of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office; and New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Gerald Barbato.

Other officers being remembered are Bayonne Sgt. Robert Skalski; Newark Captain Richard Weber; Officer Brendan Burke of the New Jersey Transit Police; Lt. Walter A. Imbert of the Orange Police Department; Timothy O’Hare of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office; and Detective Alex Melendez of the New Jersey Transit Police.

Deptford Police Officer Robert Shisler's mother Tracy carries the flag that draped his coffin as she walks with husband Robert and daughter Ashley outside Rowan University's Pfleeger Concert Hall in Glassboro after his funeral service there Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Shisler died May 7 from injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Deptford Police Officer Robert Shisler's mother Tracy carries the flag that draped his coffin as she walks with husband Robert and daughter Ashley outside Rowan University's Pfleeger Concert Hall in Glassboro after his funeral service there Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Shisler died May 7 from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Additionally, the Blue Mass will honor deceased Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brookes.

The Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

A luncheon sponsored by law enforcement will follow at Branch Brook Park Roller Rink. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by contacting Vincent Nardone and William Schievella at 1 (800) 427-7651 or through bluemass@embarqmail.com.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Deptford officer killed on duty listed for special Newark service