By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced the tragic death of Trooper II Marcellus E. Bethea, a member of New Jersey State Police Troop D who was in training with the elite TEAMS Unit.
The announcement was made with a heavy heart as the state and its law enforcement community come to terms with the loss.
According to preliminary reports, Trooper Bathea was participating in training for the TEAMS unit at the Ewing Township headquarters when he was found unconscious in the pool shortly before 5 p.m.
CPR was administered at the scene before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later passed away.
In his statement, Attorney General Platkin expressed his deepest condolences to Trooper Bethea's family, friends, and colleagues, stating that New Jersey grieves alongside them.
He highlighted the inherent risks faced by law enforcement officers and praised Trooper Bethea's commitment to serving the community with Honor, Duty, and Integrity.
The Attorney General called on the public to honor Trooper Bethea’s memory by embodying the values he lived by.
