Police and Law Enforcement News

When are you truly off duty?

As you walk out of your headquarters in your civilian clothes after a shift?  Five days into an eight-day vacation?  What about when you’re three years into retirement?

For Carmen DeGregorio the answer was “none of the above.”

You see, Carmen didn’t let his job title dictate when he should get involved and lend help to someone in need, and he didn’t measure bravery by the stamp on his badge. 

Last November, retired Millville Police Officer Carmen DeGregorio was at the  WaWa convenience store on East Main Street in Millville when he noticed a man forcing a woman into the trunk of a car.  The 51-year-old retired three years earlier but didn’t hesitate, not for a second.

DeGregorio immediately intervened and began struggling with the suspect.  Ultimately, DeGregorio broke the woman away from the suspect and was able to rescue her from the apparent kidnapping.  As he was escorting the woman toward the WaWa store, the suspect jumped in his car and began heading for the two.  The following moments were described in a Press of Atlantic City article.

As DeGregorio walked [the victim] toward the store to safety, [the actor] allegedly began circling the parking lot at a high speed.

It was at that point, authorities added, that DeGregorio began walking toward the rows of gas pumps to divert [the actor’s] attention away from [the victim]. Witnesses told police that [the actor] aimed his car directly at DeGregorio before striking him and continuing toward the short, thick steel poles that serve as barriers to Wawa's gas pumps, police said.”

Carmen DeGregorio was pronounced dead some 36 hours later leaving behind his wife and two teenage children.  

Unfortunately, because DeGregorio’s job status was changed three years earlier from “active” to “retired,” Carmen DeGregorio’s family will miss out on an enormous package of benefits and other assistance.

And the tragic episode has raised a rather serious question: should Carmen’s name be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial?

If you ask the members of his department, Millville PD, the answer is a resounding yes.

We agree.

On that day back in November, Carmen had a choice.  He could have chosen to be a good witness to a kidnapping and quite possibly a murder.  He could have chosen to call 9-1-1 and write down the license plate of the car.  He could have chosen to do absolutely nothing.

But Carmen didn’t choose any of those. 

Instead, he chose to follow his instinct. 

Instead, he chose to take action and put himself in harm’s way.

He risked his life not to protect a brother officer or even a family member. 

He risked his life for a complete stranger.

I can only hope that the chills I get from writing that somehow make it to those reading it. 

He risked his life for a complete stranger.

Opponents may argue that the wall only honors those who fell in the line of duty.  Well, duty for some ends at the end of an eight-hour tour.  For Carmen DeGregorio, duty had no end. 

Carmen’s decision to act was born out of a career of law enforcement, and he fell doing the job of law enforcement.  No one else in that parking lot rose to help that woman.  It was the policeman.

He lived as a cop and died as a cop, and the fact that at the time of his death the stamp on his badge read “retired” is so incredibly insignificant that it would almost be comical should he be disqualified from an honor he so clearly deserves.

We honor fallen volunteer officers, special officers, and part time officers even if they have just a month of service as we should.  Not honoring a man who spent half his life serving and protecting who died saving a life would be wrong.

The Wall is a sacred place that honors our fellow knights.  We must always protect it and hand it down from generation to generation.  It is strictly for bona fide law enforcement officers and must always remain that way. 

Millville PD, keep up the effort.  We’ll keep everyone updated on this story.