Sikh Community To Host Memorial For NJ Sheriff's Officer

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Sikh community is coming together to honor Mercer County Sheriff's Officer Pablo Santiago this weekend.

The community will formally commemorate Santiago’s contributions to the community with a memorial on Sunday, Feb. 10, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, 282 Bakers Basin Road in Lawrenceville.

“Organized by Sikh community members, the service will bring together all the people deeply impacted by the role Officer Santiago played in the community,” Sikh Coalition spokesperson Rajanpreet Kaur said. “This includes many fellow law enforcement officers and those involved in the Trenton monthly service initiative.”

Santiago’s family will also be in attendance. Sachdeep Arora expects 200-300 people at the memorial, which comes three weeks after the Sikh community held its first langar after Santiago’s sudden passing in December.

Santiago was very active in the community, attending every langar (free community kitchen), helping expand the service area and introducing new community members to the service. Read more here: Sikh Community Honors NJ Sheriff’s Officer’s Legacy With Langar

The memorial program will open with the singing of kirtan (Sikh devotional hymns) by Sikh children and will include translations for non-Sikhs in the attendance, according to Kaur.

“Then, Officer Santiago’s wife will share a few words in honor of her husband’s memory,” Kaur said. “The memorial will end with the presentation of a plaque to members of law enforcement, which will memorialize Officer Santiago’s contributions to the Sikh community.”

Arora said they will ask some officers from local police departments to speak. There will also be speakers from the Sikh community.

See related: Grief After NJ Sheriff's Officer Kills Self At Government Office

The attached image from the Jan. 21 langar was previously provided.