21-Year-Old Toms River Police Officer Dies After Complications From Tonsil Surgery

Ingrid Rivera-Zuniga, a 21-year-old special law enforcement officer with the Toms River Police Department, passed away following complications from a recent tonsil surgery. Rivera-Zuniga had been hospitalized with meningitis following the surgery and suffered two strokes during the recovery.

A GoFundMe page set up in her memory raised over $32,447 from 492 donors as of Wednesday, October 9. “Ingrid was facing severe illness with her family and friends by her side,” wrote fundraiser organizer Nina Casalino. “She unfortunately did not make it through this difficult time.”

Rivera-Zuniga, a graduate of Toms River High School East, had been involved with the Toms River Police Department for nearly a decade, starting as a cadet and later serving as a Class I special officer.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office paid tribute to her in a Facebook post, calling her “a tremendous ambassador for the Toms River Police Department” and “an incredible young lady who left her mark on everyone she came in contact with.”

In addition to her work in law enforcement, Rivera-Zuniga was a standout student-athlete. She competed for three seasons in track and field at Georgian Court University, participating in events such as the long jump, javelin, shot put, and the 60-meter dash.

Rivera-Zuniga, a criminal justice major, earned a 3.69 GPA and was named to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference’s 2024 outdoor track and field all-academic team.