New Tribute For State Trooper From Cinnaminson Killed In Line Of Duty

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — March 8, 2016, was more than 6 years ago.

However, the memory of what happened that day will likely stay etched in Corporal Frank Teti of the West Deptford Township Police Department's memory for a long time, if not forever.

"The night the incident happened, I was one of several that was assisting New Jersey State Police with a motor vehicle crash," he told Patch.

The crash that day was not just any crash.

Teti was among those assisting New Jersey State Trooper and Cinnaminson resident Sean Cullen at the scene of a crash and a car fire on southbound 295, milepost 23.4 in Deptford Township.
In the chaos at the scene, Cullen was struck by another vehicle and killed.

At the time of his death, Cullen had been a trooper for several years. He left behind a family.

"It hit me on a different level," Teti said in the interview. "At the time, we had a small child and I knew his wife was expecting with their second child. And I also I had a 4-year-old at home. So it hit me personally. That's why I wanted to honor him."

These days, besides fulfilling his duties as a police corporal and as a father, Teti also coaches a 9U baseball team, the Main Street Mashers. The team is one of several playing in the Thin Blue Line tournament this May 13th through May 15th in Franklinville.

The team will wear the jersey shown above, giving Teti his chance to honor Trooper Cullen. A portion of the proceeds from the sales will go a fund that was established in Cullen's name after his death, Teti said, adding he had planned on buying about 15 shirts.

"We ordered 12 shirts (one for each player) and I ordered three adult shirts for my coaching staff," he said. "After we put the order in, it just steamrolled and started taking on a life of its own. I started getting numerous phone calls from the state police administration."

Kevin Murphy, the founder of the Main Street Baseball Club, picks up the story from there.

"Word got out about the jerseys organically," he told Patch. "We felt there was enough interest to offer them for sale."

At last check, 70 shirts had been sold, according to Teti.

The shirts must be purchased by May 6 and can be bought by visiting The Tournament Clothing Company's website or by clicking here.

"What better way to honor [Cullen] and his memory?" Teti asked rhetorically.

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