Lakewood, NJ – The Lakewood Township Community has unanimously decided that the town will rename a street in memory of Officer Christopher Matlosz, Matzav.com has learned. Matlosz was gunned down while in his Lakewood patrol car on January 14.
Third Street, between Clifton Avenue and Lexington Avenue, where Lakewood’s Town Hall and Police Headquarters are located, will be known as Matlosz Way in tribute to the 27-year-old patrolman, whose funeral last Thursday drew a massive crowd, estimated at 10,000, including uniformed officers from all over the country and thousands from the Lakewood frum community.
The announcement regarding the renaming of the street was made by Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller, who stated that memorializing and commemorating the legacy of Badge 317 of the Lakewood Police Department will ensure that the magnitude of the tragedy and the loss of the slain officer will not be forgotten.
The formal dedication of the street will take place at the Lakewood Township Committee’s next scheduled meeting, on Thursday, February 3, in the first floor auditorium at Town Hall. A large crowd of police officers, officials, friends and local residents are expected to attend the ceremony.
Matlosz was shot three times while sitting inside his patrol car during a routine stop. His accused killer, Jahmell W. Crockam, 19, was arrested last Sunday morning after a nearly 40-hour manhunt across three states. Crockam, a suspected member of the Bloods gang whose nickname is “Sav” or “Savage,” was hiding in an apartment in Camden, about 60 miles from the crime scene. He made his first court appearance last Tuesday and remains in custody in lieu of $5 million bail.
Authorities said that Matlosz had pulled his police cruiser up to Crockam on the sidewalk and began talking to him in a non-confrontational manner. Suddenly, Crockam pulled a handgun out of his baggy clothing and opened fire, shooting the officer three times in cold-blooded execution-style fashion. Matlosz never had time to go for his own gun, which was still in its holster as the suspect ran away, police said.
Click here for coverage of the funeral.
{Matzav.com Lakewood News Desk}
