State Police officially identified the body of a South Jersey cop who went missing from his boat off the Wildwood coast last week.
Officer Jason Sill was a 13-year veteran of the Middle Township Police Department. He was 39 years old and had one child.
"Middle Township has lost an exemplary police officer and Jason’s family and friends have lost much more than words can ever say," said Middle Township Mayor Daniel Lockwood in a statement.
The Coast Guard says that a fellow boater found Sill's navy blue 23-foot pleasure craft in the ocean off Wildwood around noon on Aug. 27. The fellow boater alerted rescuers because he noticed that the boat appeared to have no one on board, the coast Guard said.
When the Coast Guard arrived to the scene they found fishing poles set up, a packed lunch on board and keys in the boat’s ignition with the engine in a down position and the throttle forward, they said.
The boat left Pier 47 Marina around 9:30 a.m., according to the marina. Authorities say Sill, who was alone, told others he planned on fishing.
On Tuesday, State Police said they identified Sill's body from a tattoo that he had. The exact cause of death wasn't released.
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In a statement, Sill's boss Police Chief Christopher Leusner recalled some of Sill's finest moments:
There are many examples of Jason's actions as a police officer in difficult circumstances that made this community safer and specifically actions that saved the lives of others. His actions as police officer varied from jumping into the bay to save a driver of a submerged vehicle or rescuing an elderly citizen from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Jason stood ready to protect others and never failed to rise up to the immediate challenge facing him to save another person. Jason will be greatly missed.
