Wayne Truex, a former Lakewood police officer and one-time township fire chief, has passed away. Truex, who also served with the Lakewood First Aid Squad, was removed from the Lakewood Police Department after a fatal incident that continues to cast a shadow over his public service record.
On August 30, 2002, while on duty with the Lakewood Police Department, Truex struck and killed an Orthodox Jewish man on Clifton Avenue near Bais Faiga. The victim, who had just left a wedding at the hall, was walking toward his parked vehicle shortly after midnight when Truex’s police cruiser hit him. Despite efforts by emergency responders to save him, the man tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The deadly crash immediately triggered investigations by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lakewood Police Department’s Internal Affairs unit. Prosecutors ultimately did not bring criminal charges against Truex – despite witnesses reporting seeing him barreling down Clifton Avenue at a very high rate of speed and his refusal to provide a blood sample to investigators. Officials also determined that he lied about the circumstances of the crash.
Because of his refusal to cooperate and the misleading information he provided, Truex was fired from the police department later that year. His termination was upheld in appeals through the state civil service system and confirmed by the New Jersey Appellate Division, which found the department was justified in removing him for failing to cooperate in a fatal-accident investigation.
The victim’s death deeply shook Lakewood’s frum kehilla. The tragic crash led to renewed calls for pedestrian safety measures along busy Clifton Avenue, as well as stricter oversight of police involved in fatal accidents.
After leaving the police force, Truex remained active in emergency services, serving as Lakewood Fire Chief from 2008 to 2010. Nonetheless, his career and reputation never fully recovered from the fatal crash and his mishandling of the investigation that followed.
De rusha hut gepeigert
Yemach shemoi
Yemach shemoi to all that you are and know and have touched for saying such a thing ….
Who ever wrote this article is disrespectful and disgusting . What ever happened 23 years ago has no bearing on his untimely death . He was a good man and a good friend . He did a lot for the community. The only shadow being cast is from people like you . As sad as it was It was an unfortunate accident .
Why wouldn’t he give a blood sample, unless he had something to hide, the rest of us would be forced to give a sample, but as a cop he got special treatment.
He went on to live for another 23 years, while the family of the poor man he killed didn’t have that luxury.
I guess my comment bothered someone . Thanks for not posting it I guess i struck a nerve . Lakewood alerts should be ashamed .
Yimakh shemo is a Hebrew curse placed after the name of particular enemies of the Jewish people, or on rare occasions, after the name of evildoing Jews.