Jersey City Police Officer Killed Helping Driver On Turnpike

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A 23-year officer with the Jersey City Police Department was struck and killed by a car on the New Jersey Turnpike driving to work early Friday morning, Mayor Steve Fulop said.

Lt. Chris Robateau, 49, got into a minor car accident on the Turnpike north in Newark around 6:30 a.m., Mayor Steve Fulop said at a press conference. He got out of his car to help the other driver when he was struck by a pick-up truck; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He's one of those officers that you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that would ever say anything bad about him. I know you often find people in this situation where people say, 'He was such a good person,' but I think with Lt. Robateau that was prevalent when he was alive and today as well, so our heart and prayers go out to the family," Mayor Steve Fulop said in an afternoon press conference.

Robateau was on his way to work in full uniform at the time of his death; he will receive all the benefits associated with an on-duty death, including full health benefits and pension, and will be laid to rest with a full inspector's funeral.

"We consider him on duty in JC being that he was looking to help someone which is what we want all JC officers to do all the time," Mayor Steve Fulop said in a tweet Friday morning.

Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelly said of all the Jersey City officers, Robateau "may be our best."

"Lt. Robateau's instincts are always to help and save others, and thats what he was doing when he was struck," Kelly said at the press conference. "We're talking about a man who was an unbelievable family man, were talking about a man who is one of the most decorated police officers that we have, we're talking about a man who was one of the most active police officers and police supervisors that we have."

Capt. Bobby Kearns, president of police union, said Robateau was highly respected within the department, and was almost unanimously voted to his position as vice president of the police officer's union.

"You'd be hard pressed to find somebody who didn't have a good word about Chris," Kearns said. "This is a great loss."

Robateau, a Carteret resident, leaves behind three children, ages 25, 16, and 15, including one who works as a dispatcher in Jersey City, and his wife. Robateau enjoyed supporting his children's track careers, Kelly said, as well as taking trips to Hersey Park or down the shore.

"That's the kind of time he spent with his family, after putting in quite an extraordinary week with us," Kelly said.

During his 23-year tenure, Robateau earned over 40 awards for his police work, including some for putting his life on the line, Kelly said. Robateau began his career was a plainclothes narcotic officer, working his way up to his final position as a supervisor in the Downtown area.

New Jersey State Police are expected to release more information about the crash Friday afternoon. Check back for more details.

Image via New Jersey State Police