United in Tears

We live in an area often referred to as the Tri-State area: the area comprises New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, all of it connected by "THE" City, as we all tend to call NYC.
Of course, we rib our New Jersey neighbors relentlessly:
Your only claim to fame is that you're next to New York.
We gave you guys the Jets and the Giants just so you'd have something to do on a Sunday!
What have you got that we don't have? Bruce Springsteen! Gimme a Break!

And then something horrible happens, and we are all a part of New Jersey, even if for only one moment. Officer Christopher Matlosz was not part of the NYPD; his precinct is actually more than a couple of hours away from NYC, but we are one...united in tears, for a life lost...senselessly...my heart breaks for his fiancee, because I am smart enough to know that it could be my husband, or any one of ours...and I even gave a moment of thought to the young life wasted that shot him...nineteen years old and a lifetime of prison ahead.

It's a sad day in the Tri-State.

Police Officer Christopher Matlosz
Lakewood Police Department
New Jersey
End of Watch: Friday, January 14, 2011

Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 317

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, January 14, 2011
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Police Officer Chris Matlosz was shot and killed by a man he had stopped to talk to on August Drive at approximately 4:00 pm.

Officer Matlosz was on patrol when he stopped his patrol car to speak with a man walking along the road. As they spoke, the male took one step back, drew a handgun and shot Officer Matlosz three times, killing him.

The suspect immediately fled the scene. He was arrested in Camden by members of the New Jersey State Police and United States Marshals Service 38 hours after the shooting after investigators received a tip on his whereabouts.

Officer Matlosz had served with the Lakewood Police Department for five years. He had previously served with the Englishtown Police Department for two years and had also served as a special police officer with the Freehold Township Police Department, Long Branch Police Department and Manasquan Police Department.

He is survived by his fiancee, mother, and brother.