Harvey Cedars police officer Angelo Vasile, 38, was riding a motorcycle when he was killed early Saturday morning in the crash while he was off-duty.
In Toms River on Tuesday, friends and family gathered for the viewing of Officer Vasile. Police officers from all over Ocean County also came to pay their respects to the eight year veteran of the tiny police department on Long Beach Island.
"We have a nine member police department. You take one of us away, you take one of our members away, it's like getting a punch in the gut," said Sgt. Dan Malay of the Harvey Cedars Police Department.
"He was just good-hearted, very quiet. I can't say enough about him as far as being a good guy," said Ptl. Ron Holloway of the Surf City Police Department.
Vasile was the married father of two sons, ages 13 and 3, and the president of the local PBA.
He was killed early Saturday morning when a car plowed into his motorcycle as he traveled south on Route 9. Vasile had been riding ahead of a group of friends, including his brother, who came upon him lying in the road. The driver that hit him fled.
"The most cowardly thing anybody can do is take off. My reaction is when you do something like that you have to pay for the crime," said Sgt. Chuck Sahlberg of the Harvey Cedars Police Department.
Authorities say an arrest is expected soon.
"We've recovered the vehicle a short distance from where the crash occurred and we've identified a suspect," said Dep. Chief Mike Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Officer Vasile's funeral will be held on Wednesday. His fellow officers are setting up a scholarship fund for his children.
