The NJ State Police says more than 10,000 police officers attended the funeral of Lakewood Police Officer Christopher Matlosz on Thursday, who was brutally shot and killed last Friday. The large contingency of police officers was joined by thousands upon thousands of Frum residents of the Lakewood community, led by the Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva Shlita. Hundreds of young Frum children also lined the streets in an orderly fashion – in a magnificent Kiddush Hashem.
The enormous crowd lined the streets quietly as the procession passed by.
Thousands of law enforcement officers in dress uniforms assembled outside the church, listening through loudspeakers. Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno sat in the first row across from family members.
Among the delegation were officers from Philadelphia, Newark, New York City and Washington, D.C. Police departments from all 50 states and foreign countries including Canada and the Bahamas had inquired about sending their officers, said Jim Ryan, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association.
Matlosz, 27, was on patrol Friday in a residential neighborhood in Lakewood that had been the scene of several drive-by shootings. He pulled his police cruiser up to a person on the sidewalk and began talking to him in a non-confrontational manner, authorities said. Suddenly, the pedestrian pulled a handgun out of his baggy clothing and opened fire, shooting the officer three times.
Matlosz slumped behind the wheel, mortally wounded, as the suspect ran away.
Jeff Hanlon, who served with Matlosz on the Englishtown Police department before Matlosz joined the Lakewood force four years ago, spoke angrily of the suspect, calling him “a coward” too scared to confront the officer in a fair fight.
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VIDEO & PHOTOS BY HILLEL ENGEL FOR YWN.
(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)
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28 Responses
Big kiddush Hashem
What a sight to see the yeshiva lining the streets today in this video.
I’m in Chicago, and thanksYWN for the video. I feel like I was part of this kidush hashem.
Mi kiamcho yisroel!
A police officer from Virginia asked me today if the officer shot and killed was Jewish since there were more Jews than non-Jews.
He was shocked to hear that we all came just to pay our respects to the men who keep our streets safe.
What a beautiful thing we did today.
Just a shame it had to be with an innocent officer taking a bullet to the head.
It appears that 99% of the bochrim were acting completely respectfully, making a kiddush hashem.
However, I must take exception to the few individuals who were using cameras and cell phones to snap pictures during the procession. It is disrespectful and tacky. This is a funeral procession, not some spectacle of amusement. They should be standing somberly and respectfully.
But maybe that’s my old-fashioned sensibilities…
Makes ya wonder what this officer did to be zoche to have the roshei yeshiva of the biggest yeshiva in the world close their gemorah’s and attend his funeral.
Wow.
Bagpipes sounded mammish like the intro to “ligabey”
Anyone else hear that too?
#4 – FYI, the officers themselves were taking photos with their phones.
CALM DOWN.
This was an incredible show of force and power in this democracy that we live in.
All law enforcement are part of one army.
Taking photos was and is NOT disrespectful.
Incredible kidush hashem.
Don’t expect the hate blogs to give the frum oil am any credit when credit is due. They only report chill hashem.
Kudos ywn for posting this.
This thug was charged with another murder today.
I say we just save the taxpayers money and just execute him in the town square.
What’s even more scary, is that there are hundreds of these thugs still walking the streets of Lakewood.
R.I.P.
our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends
Just wondering……where are the public school children?
Nuff said.
From a reader in North Miami Beach: RIP, our thoughts go out to his friends and family.
Sadly, two of OUR officers were gunned down today.
it’s high-time that we pass a new law.
If your a cop killer, you get killed in public BY the cops.
Like a good old firing squad.
Ver hut nisht gigangen in mikveh, zults NISHT unreerin deem urin….
Yoshev biseser……
condolences to chief Lawson, and entire lpd
To the LPD, who is reading every comment.
Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you in this tragic story.
It may seem that we have nothing in common with you guys usually, but just look at the thousands of bearded, yarmulka-wearing Jews lining the streets today, and you will see that we have much in common.
Religion is a freedom. Taking a bullet is not.
DEATH PENALTY NOW FOR THE KILLER!!!!!!
I was in awe to see all that aparatus including two choppers overhead
WELL DONE LAKEWOOD, WELL DONE ROSHEI YESHIVA, THIS WAS THE RIGHT MOVE, HUGE KIDDUSH HASH-M.
finally some one recognizing the many thousands of frum yidden that lined 11 blocks of monouth ave shame on every other site they all look exactly like the app
I am so proud of the frum community for turning out in large numbers. While it may have been asur to enter the church itself for the actual service, it is entirely appropriate to express our condolences to the family of someone who died protecting us all and to stand in solidarity with the other police officers who protect us every day. Thank you, Lakewood community!
#7:
So? The fact that officers did it too doesn’t change my belief that it is tacky and disrespectful to snap photos during a funeral (aside from members of the press). “They did it too” isn’t a valid excuse…
#6:
It’s not surprising. Many Jewish songs/niggunim borrow melodies from goyishe sources.
2pence
i hear you but yes you are old fashoned
A kiddush Hashem like today’s comes along once in a lifetime.
What a kidush hashem
Sad occasion, but it was a beautiful show of gratitude to Police Officer Matlosz, and all the other brave Police officers who continue to risk their lives daily to protect us! Kol Hakovod!
#5 What did he do? He gave his life protecting Lakewood.
Just simply wow. Really wow. Lakewood knows how to pay respect. Oh you poor fiance… LPD has lost a good cop. A grieving family was most consoled by todays public display of unity. As for the killer- guilty untill proven guilty and NO BAIL!
Thank you for posting the video…it was very moving.
Perhaps YWN can get a copy to the officer’s family? I’m sure they would appreciate it.
BTW, was that a Hatzalah ambulance in the procession?