An incredible send-off for a ‘Warrior’

President’s Message 

Admittedly, those of us in law enforcement don’t get everything right all the time. As much as we try, and as much as we strive, perfection still eludes us in this business of ours.

But there is one very significant exception: the way we honor our heroes. The funeral for Deptford Township Officer Bobby Shisler proved it once again.

Even with just 10 short days to plan, not one detail was missed in the send-off for Bobby on May 17. And all at a time of immense sorrow and grieving for our brother after an exhaustive eight-week vigil of hope and eventual heartbreak.

To the men and women of the Deptford Township Police Department, all of you in Gloucester County Local 122 and the unseen hundreds of you who took part in the planning of his incredible send-off, job well-done! You didn’t miss a thing, and if you think you did, we didn’t notice. You honored his service, his legacy, his family life and captured who he was for those of us who never had the honor to meet him.

As we received the updates on his condition since he was wounded on March 10, I quickly got the feeling from anybody who knew Bobby that they were all certain that he would be wheeled out of the hospital sooner than later. “Warrior” is a term that is often over-used, but I quickly learned it was an appropriate term to describe Bobby when we received the regular updates.

Unfortunately, for reasons not known to us, it was not to be. I never had the honor of meeting him, but in talking to everyone who knew him, I wish I had.

I was given the honor once again to read the names of fallen officers from New Jersey who were added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the Candlelight Vigil at National Police Week. Their names were added to the more than 23,000 other officers who have sacrificed their lives like Officer Shisler did.

His name will be inscribed next year and will be read at the Candlelight Vigil with the reverence and respect he deserves. We will never forget the sacrifice of Officer Bobby Shisler and the other 23,785 whose names are engraved on the wall forever.