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

The "contagious smile" on Pablo Santiago was real, his friends and family say. He was a generous, kind man who always willing to give advice to anybody who was willing to listen.

Just days before he died of a self-inflicted wound, Santiago had a Christmas Eve message on his Facebook page, one of his last words of advice:

"Please don’t drink and drive," the Mercer County sheriff's officer wrote. "Do like I do and get yourself a DD (Dunkin Donuts)."

Now his family and friends are grieving deeply, posting messages of saddness and talking publicly about the stresses law enforcement officers face as they remember Santiago, and all the good work he did.

A GoFundMe page also was created to raise money for his wife and two daughters, noting that Detective Pablo Santiago was kind, loyal and respected.

"Anyone who met Pablo knew him to always have a contagious smile, a beautiful spirit, and a kind (and many times silly) word," the page said.

"Not only was he a respected pillar of the Mercer County community, and the president of PBA Local 187, but also a sheriff’s Ooficer dedicated to his job beyond words. And above all else and most importantly, a devoted friend, husband and father."

Toward that end, Princeton police announced that Mercer County law enforcement was "rocked to its core" with the news that Mercer County Sheriff’s officer Santiago was found dead on Wednesday.

Santiago, who had served in the Mercer County Sheriff's Office since 2004, was found dead inside the Mercer County Administration building on South Broad Street in Trenton, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler said the death is a "tragedy and "a very sad reminder of the pressures that law-enforcement officers experience on a daily basis."

"Our hearts break when a law enforcement officer in our community dies under any circumstances. I know that all of our Sheriff’s Officers feel a terrible loss today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Det. Santiago, his family, his friends and colleagues," Kremler said in a statement.

Princeton police said Santiago was a fixture in community policing circles among Mercer County officers and he was an honorary member of the newly formed Mercer County Police & Fire Pipe and Drum Corps. He was a Former Trenton police pfficer and "also a friend to many officers here in the PPD."

"We are sending Pablo’s family and the Mercer County Sheriff’s our deepest heartfelt condolences," Princeton police said. "We also want to point out that the holidays may be the breaking point for many people who face depression or other treated and untreated symptoms that can lead to suicide."

Police also wanted to send a message: If you're thinking about suicide or worried about someone who might be, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect with a local crisis center. You can also text the Crisis Text Line by messaging TALK to 741741. Police officers can text the word BLUE to 741741.

"The world is now short a huge smile, an even bigger heart and the joy and light Pablo spread to the lives of every single person he met," his GoFundMe page said.

Friends, colleagues and family posted many messages of condolences:

Photos courtesy of Princeton police