Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman ADAM J. TALIAFERRO
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Designates portion of Interstate Highway Route 295 in West Deptford Township as “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen Memorial Highway.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating the portion of Interstate Highway Route 295 in West Deptford Township as the “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen Memorial Highway.”
Whereas, State Trooper Sean E. Cullen was an extraordinary public servant who served the people of New Jersey as a member of the New Jersey State Police; and
Whereas, Born in Dublin, Ireland, State Trooper Cullen emigrated to the United States as a child, where he was raised in Cinnaminson, New Jersey and attended Cinnaminson High School; and
Whereas, State Trooper Cullen graduated in 2003 from Cinnaminson High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team and recorded more than 100 wins for the team; and
Whereas, After graduating from high school, State Trooper Cullen attended Lycoming College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2007; and
Whereas, At Lycoming College, State Trooper Cullen was an All-American wrestler and a three-time NCAA National Title qualifier, building a record of 94-30, ranking eighth in the college’s history for wins, and earning induction into Lycoming College’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012; and
Whereas, After graduating from college, State Trooper Cullen served as a police officer in the City of Sea Isle City, the Township of Mount Holly, and the Township of Westampton from 2007 until 2014; and
Whereas, An honorable and courageous man who loved the opportunity to protect and serve the people of this State, State Trooper Cullen earned a place in the 154th class of the New Jersey State Police Academy; and
Whereas, Upon graduating from the New Jersey State Police Academy in August 2014, State Trooper Cullen was assigned to Troop “A,” where he served at the Bellmawr and Buena Vista stations; and
Whereas, On March 8, 2016, State Trooper Cullen tragically lost his life on Interstate Highway Route 295, near milepost 23.4 in West Deptford Township, New Jersey, while on duty responding to a motor vehicle accident and subsequent motor vehicle fire; and
Whereas, State Trooper Cullen was a dedicated member of the New Jersey State Police as well as a loving father whose memory will live on in the hearts of his fiancée, family, friends, and fellow State Troopers; and
Whereas,
As a true example of leadership and service to the State, it is fitting and
proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to honor the memory of
State Trooper Sean E. Cullen by designating the portion of Interstate Highway
Route 295 in West Deptford Township as the “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen
Memorial Highway”; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate the portion of Interstate Highway Route 295, extending from milepost 19.04 to milepost 24.53, in West Deptford Township as the “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen Memorial Highway” and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
2. State or other public funds shall not be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions. Work shall not proceed and funding shall not be accepted by the Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining the signs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates the portion of Interstate Highway Route 295 in West Deptford Township as the “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen Memorial Highway” to honor the memory of State Trooper Sean Cullen, who was tragically killed in the line of duty while responding to a traffic accident and subsequent motor vehicle fire on Interstate Highway Route 295 in West Deptford Township.
Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the “State Trooper Sean E. Cullen Memorial Highway.” The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources.