Hillsborough Officer To Be Honored At Newark Blue Mass

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough police officer will be among New Jersey law enforcement members attending the Archdiocese of Newark’s 33rd Annual Blue Mass on Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, who lived in Hillsborough prior to his death, had served with the New Jersey State Police.

The service will honor law enforcement officers and remember 11 deceased officers, according to the Archdiocese of Newark.

The Mass will bring together officers of all faiths from federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies.

Families of deceased officers, community members and public officials are also expected to attend. Police honor guards, bagpipers and drummers will participate in the service.

Chief Christopher Trucillo of the NJ Transit Police Department is the honorary chairman of the Blue Mass.

"We look forward to the Blue Mass every year as an opportunity to show appreciation for our brothers and sisters in the law enforcement community, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our fragile society without any expectation of recognition," Trucillo said. "We also honor those we’ve lost, demonstrating that they will always be valued and that their sacrifice will never be forgotten."

This year’s Mass will remember 11 law enforcement officers, including four who died of 9/11-related illnesses after responding to the World Trade Center attacks.

The liturgy will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to the Archdiocese.

The officers being remembered are Lt. Peter Bruncati, New Jersey State Police; Sgt. 1st Class William A. Casey, New Jersey State Police; Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tiboni, New Jersey State Police; Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, New Jersey State Police; Detective John Patrick, Springfield Police Department; Detective Fritz Magny, Newark Police Department; Officer Robert Banas, Customs and Border Protection; Lt. Thomas “T.J.” Malanka, Secaucus Police Department; Officer Matthew Kirvin, Secaucus Police Department; Officer Johnny Mack, Jersey City Police Department; and Officer Joseph Giordano, Bayonne Police Department.

The annual Blue Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 12 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. For more information, the Archdiocese said Vincent Nardone and William Schievella can be reached at 1-800-427-7651 or newarkbluemass@gmail.com.