Cheryl Wurst recently got a phone call from Chief Anthony Luyber of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office ahead of the annual Fallen Officers Memorial Service on May 13.
On March 28, 1975, her cousin, officer William C. Wurst of the Hainesport Township Police Department, was shot and killed by a sniper. He was 24.
“I contacted her for the purpose of not just to think about the tragic incident of the day but rather the impact of officer Wurst’s death on life for her and her family and their efforts to heal and move forward,” Luyber recalled.
Cheryl and William were the same age and part of the same circle of close friends.
“She said even when spending time with those friends years later, she felt that void left by his death,” Luyber learned. “She also shared that it took more than 10 years before she even began the healing process. That speaks to the lasting impact these tragedies have on the loved ones left behind.
“Ms. Wurst said what she appreciates about ceremonies like this (the fallen officers event) today is we don’t focus on the violent events that led to those heroes’ deaths,” he said. “Instead we focus on the lives, their lives, their dedication to serving others and the ultimate sacrifice they made in the line of duty.”
Wurst shared with Luyber that when the Hainesport police force disbanded more than 20 years ago, she and her family were adopted by the Mount Holly Police Department.
“She still spends time and volunteers her efforts to raise money for police-funded scholarships for students who continue to hold this ceremony each year,” he noted, “to ensure the legacy and memory of our fallen officers are never forgotten,” he said.
The Burlington County Police Chiefs Association presented the Fallen Officers Memorial Service at the Emergency Services Training Center and law-enforcement agencies throughout the county were present. The Burlington County Honor Guard presented the colors.
Joel Bewley, public information officer for the prosecutor’s office, was master of ceremonies. Michelle Koroseta of the Florence Township Police Department sang the national anthem. Father Matt Tucker of the chiefs association led the invocation.
Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz, deputy superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, was guest speaker. He most recently served as acting superintendent and director of emergency management for the state and was appointed incident commander for all New York/New Jersey matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s largest sporting event.
In his 25-year career, Sierotowicz also helped command and plan roles for numerous high-profile events like presidential visits, the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) and U.S. Golf Association tournaments, gubernatorial inaugurations and the Army vs. Navy football game.
On top of his official duties, he also finds time for community activities and serves as a soccer, football and basketball coach for the teams of his two children.
“Today we honor men and women whose lives are defined by courage, service and ultimately by sacrifice,” he stated at the memorial. “We stand united by the tragic events, but in gratitude for their service to this community, to this state and to this country.
“… A line-of-duty death is not just a loss to one department, it’s a loss to an entire community.”
Sierotowicz noted that the U.S has lost 27,358 officers since 1776, with 38 line-of-duty deaths in New Jersey this year alone, and three just this month.
“Each of these (deaths are) devastating and heartbreaking to the communities that they serve and the families that they leave behind,” he acknowledged. “You can see behind me what stands here so proudly, etched in stone, is Burlington County line-of-duty deaths from police, from fire and from EMS.”
During the ceremony, Luyber and Bordentown City Police Chief Shaun Lafferty tied blue ribbons on a police vehicle. The roll call of fallen officers was read by Central Communications.
- Patrolman George Gusrang, Burlington City Police Department, End of Watch: Nov. 22, 1907
- Patrolman Thomas Rogan, Burlington City Police Department, End of Watch: July 4, 1914
- Warden William Harry King, Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, End of Watch: Nov. 11, 1920
- Sgt. John Divers, New Jersey State Police, End of Watch: May 2, 1930
- Sgt. Frank A. Trainor, New Jersey State Police, End of Watch: Aug. 3, 1953
- Trooper George R. Dancy Jr., New Jersey State Police, End of Watch: May 28, 1956
- Patrolman George Clayton Ayers, Moorestown Police Department, End of Watch: Jan. 28, 1958
- Patrolman Walter Kotch, Florence Township Police Department, End of Watch: April 15, 1965
- Trooper Anthony Lukis, New Jersey State Police, End of Watch: May 4, 1966
- Officer William C. Wurst, Hainesport Township Police Department, End of Watch: March 28, 1975
- Donald R. Aleshire, Mount Holly Township Police Department, End of Watch: March 28, 1975′
- Thomas C. Whitelock, Riverton Borough Police Department, End of Watch: Jan. 14, 1976
- Sgt. Francis X. Fullerton Sr., Moorestown Police Department, End of Watch: June 1, 1979
- Patrolman John O. Holmes, Mount Holly Police Department, End of Watch: July 22, 1992
- Trooper Sean E. Cullen, New Jersey State Police, End of Watch: March 8, 2016.
Representatives from departments who lost officers in the line of duty then participated in a wreath laying that included the Burlington County Sherriff’s Department, Hainesport Township, Burlington City Police Department, Moorestown Township Police Department, Florence Township Police Department, Riverton Borough Police Department, Mount Holly Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police and the Burlington County Chiefs of Police.
Lafferty provided final remarks.
“The fact that our first responders prepare, train, stand forever ready is lost in the public’s perception,” he explained. “Discipline shows up every day, around the clock, waiting to respond to the next emergency … Sacrifices go unseen. They give up their weekends, nights, holidays and precious times with their families.
“It’s an unending task from the day we start our careers.
“Every officer and family knows the full measure of dangers and risks they might face,” Lafferty said, adding that they are at peace with their career decision. “… We show up every day with our arm at our weapon, ready to meet evil head on. There is no stronger calling or noble profession.
“Those (who) dedicate their lives to peace, courage, honor and chivalry.”
The ceremony ended with a gun salute by the Burlington County Honor Guard and taps by bugler Kendall Brunson. Steven Wegner then played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.
Officers salute fallen colleagues at the memorial service.
A wreath laying at the Fallen Officers Memorial Service on May 13 at Burlington County’s Emergency Services Training Center.
