Lakewood police say the officer was shot around 5 p.m. Friday. The state Attorney General's Office identified the dead officer as 27-year-old Christopher Matlosz.
He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the fatal shooting of Lakewood police officer Chris Matlosz, who lost his life in the line of duty this evening," Attorney General Paula Dow said in a statement issued by her office. "My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest assured, the suspect responsible for this horrific act will be apprehended and brought to justice."
Authorities said Matlosz was a uniformed officer who responded to a call in his patrol car, but withheld details of the incident until a press conference, which had not yet begun after 8 p.m.
No suspects had been arrested as of Friday night.
Numerous local and state police units were at the development where the shooting occurred in the community of 60,000 in northern Ocean County near the Jersey shore.
The State Policeman's Benevolent Association is offering a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect, according to the group's spokesman, Jim Ryan.
In Sept. 2009, another Lakewood police officer, Patrolman Jonathan Wilson, was critically wounded when he was shot in the face during a gun and drug raid that resulted in a gun battle. Three other officers were shot but received lesser injuries.
The alleged shooter in that case faces attempted murder charges.
