Paramus Police Honor Fallen Officers

The remembered three of its officers Monday at the annual Police Memorial Service.

Every year, the department honors the memory of Lt. Harry Carlough, Officer Michael McEllen and Officer Vincent Brock, who each died in the line of duty.

The department also remembered Claude Racine, a Somerset Police Officer and Paramus resident who in April. Racine was honored during the Memorial Service in 2011 for riding in the Police Unity Tour.

The tour is a four-day bicycle ride to the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Last year, Racine rode in honor of Vincent Brock.

This year, Paramus Police Lt. John Scully, Det. Craig McEllen and River Edge Police Sgt. Robert Daly rode on behalf of all three deceased Paramus officers. 

"I can't help but feel that Officer Racine inspired three police officers locally after they heard of what Claude did last year," Chief Christopher Brock said.

During their ride, Scully, McEllen and Daly wore wrist bands bearing the names of the Paramus officers. They presented the wrist bands to the Carlough, McEllen and Brock families at the Memorial Service.

Brock said the idea behind the service, the Unity Tour and the Memorial in Washington, D.C. amounted to two words: Never forget.

"It is not just a cliche for us survivors, but is a code of conduct that we all live by," he said.

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