Josh Lillagore Carries on Family Tradition at Cinnaminson Police Department

Josh Lillagore used to call his grandfather Police Car Pop Pop.

Thomas Lillagore Sr. was a police officer for about 30 years, 28 of which he spent in Cinnaminson.

Josh’s father, Thomas Lillagore Jr., is currently a police officer in Cinnaminson. Thomas Lillagore said he worked alongside his father once, and will now have the pleasure of working alongside his son.

Josh Lillagore, 27, was one of 32 cadets to graduate as part of the 13th basic class of police officers from the Mercer County Police Academy on Friday during a ceremony inside Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College (MCCC).

He was one of two graduates from Cinnaminson. Joseph Wagner, 26, was one of three graduates to earn a physical training award.

They will join Garrett McLaverty, 22; John Gannon, 27; Kyle Hess, 24; Mike Curran, 30, and Mark Berardis, 22, as the newest members of the Cinnaminson Police Department, which now has 25 officers, according to Thomas Lillagore.

Josh Lillagore stands out because although it isn’t unusual to have family members serve for the same police department, Thomas Lillagore says it is rare to find three generations of officers who all serve the same department.

“It’s a big compliment when your son wants to follow in the same profession you’re in,” Thomas Lillagore said. “I’m feeling extremely proud as I’m sure my dad did when I became a police officer.”

“I’m ecstatic,” said Josh Lillagore, who said he grew up around public safety. “I grew up in Cinnaminson, and to now be able to serve the community is great. It’s a great place to live.”

Josh Lillagore was sworn in on Thursday and graduated from the academy on Friday. His first day with the department is Monday, and he will be sworn in during a public ceremony at the township committee’s next meeting.

Thomas Lillagore said it is unlikely they will be partners, but they may end up working the same days. He said they will have to work out an agreement in which they leave all discussion of work at the police station, and that Josh shouldn’t expect any favorable treatment from his father at work.

“If anything, I’ll be harder on him because I expect so much from him,” Thomas Lillagore said.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” said Josh Lillagore, who said his father has always had a strong work ethic and expects a lot from Josh, as well as his 25-year-old sister and 19-year-old brother.

Thomas Lillagore described the situation as a “reality check” for his wife, Lee Ann.

“She’s proud of both of us, but it’s tough to believe,” Thomas Lillagore said.

He said they got married young and is going from seeing her young husband go out on police calls to now seeing her husband and her young son engaged in the same profession.

“It’s something to be proud of.”

Thomas Lillagore began his career in Riverside in 1995. He said while he was there, he did a narcotic search that Cinnaminson Police assisted with. Thomas Lillagore’s dad was one of the officers who participated.

“That was pretty neat,” said Thomas Lillagore, who never worked with his father after making the lateral transfer to Cinnaminson in 2005.

Josh said he has already interacted with his father. He became a dispatcher for Burlington County in 2010 and became a dispatcher for the Bridge Commission in 2013.

“I would hear his voice on the other end, and I would brag to the other workers,” Josh Lillagore said.

He also said that it was when he was a dispatcher that he really knew he wanted to become a police officer.

He became a volunteer firefighter at the age of 14.

“When 9-11 happened, I was just the right age to be able to join the fire department,” Josh Lillagore said. “That December I got involved, and I was able to see what it was like to help people firsthand.”

Josh Lillagore can now continue to help people in what seems to be turning into a family tradition.

Thomas Lillagore’s father died three years ago.

“If he were still around today, he would be so proud,” Thomas Lillagore said.

Those who attended the Mercer County Police Academy endured 21 weeks of training at the academy in all aspects of law enforcement. The academy was established in 2006.

The following is a list of the graduates, their hometowns, and the law enforcement agency each will join, provided by the Mercer County Police Academy:

Kenneth M. Allen of Burlington Township, Alternate Route;

William F. Atkinson of Mount Laurel, Plainsboro Police Department;

James H. Bruins of Hamilton, Alternate Route;

Kyle L. Buck of Montgomery, Alternate Route;

Jeffery H. Cooper of Hamilton, Alternate Route;

Phillip L. Culotta of Ewing, Alternate Route;

Jacob B. Edelman of Old Bridge, South River Police Department;

Nicholas J. Enea of East Windsor, Alternate Route;

Daniel J. Farnkopf of Lacey, N.J. State Park Police;

Steven W. Fielding of Phillipsburg, Phillipsburg Police Department;

Corey J. Fischer of Clinton, Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office;

James D. Gorski Jr. of Lawrenceville, Lawrence Township Police Department;

Travis E. Hoffman of Chesterfield, Fieldsboro Police Department;

Jorge L. Irizarry of Perth Amboy, Perth Amboy Police Department;

Robert T. Janoski of Lawrenceville, Lawrence Township Police Department;

Shari A. Johnson of Hamilton, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office;

Karl L. Johnston III of Hamilton, Alternate Route;

Justin R. Kowalczyk of Hamilton, Plainsboro Township Police Department;

Joshua T. Lillagore of Cinnaminson, Cinnaminson Police Department;

Michael R. Madden of Levittown, Pa., N.J. State Park Police;

Ivis F. Molina of East Windsor, Alternate Route;

Christopher J. Petrella of Lopatcong, Lopatcong Township Police Department;

James J. Pica of Robbinsville, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office;

Joseph N. Sebasto of Hamilton, N.J. State Park Police;

Adam K. Swiatek of Delaware Township, Alternate Route;

Peter J. Szukics of Toms River, South River Police Department;

Daniel R. Titen of Plainsboro, Alternate Route;

Konstantinos Travlos of North Brunswick, North Brunswick Police Department;

Joseph R. Wagner of Cinnaminson, Cinnaminson Police Department;

Jeremy L. Weniger of Branchburg, Branchburg Police Department;

Marvin L. Widemond of Phillipsburg, Phillipsburg Police Department;

Brian W. Zimmer of Spotswood, Alternate Route.

The attached image of Thomas Lillagore Jr. and Josh Lillagore was provided by Thomas Lillagore Jr.