Officer Down

Trooper Marc Castellano, New Jersey State Police

Trooper Marc Castellano
New Jersey State Police
End of Watch: Sunday, June 6, 2010
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 6397
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: Sunday, June 6, 2010
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Trooper Marc Castellano died of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle while searching for a suspect.

At approximately 8:45am, New Jersey State Troopers observed a vehicle on the shoulder of northbound lanes of the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 90 in Ocean County. When a Trooper pulled up behind the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed. The trooper ended the pursuit for safety reasons after a brief pursuit. About 75 minutes later, other law enforcement agencies in the area found the driver of the vehicle near her car pulled off the side of the road on Route 195 West near exit 31B. She told officers she was with an armed man, prompting a massive search for a person who police later learned was non-existent.

Trooper Castellano was on Route 195 near an exit ramp in Howell Township and was searching for the person described by the female driver. As he conducted the search, he was struck by a passing vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries several hours later.

The female was arrested and faces multiple charges relating to the death of Trooper Castellano, in that she provided false information that prompted a unnecessary search by officers which led to the death of Trooper Castellano.

Trooper Castellano had served with the New Jersey State Police for six years and was assigned to Troop C Tactical Patrol Unit. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We’ll Continue The Watch
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.