Obituaries
'God Bless His Soul': Community Mourns Loss Of Hillside Officer
State, county and local authorities and officials shared their condolences over the tragic death of Hillside Officer Giovanni Esposito, 30.
HILLSIDE, NJ — Thoughts and prayers are being sent out by neighboring police departments and officials over the "heartbreaking" tragic death of Hillside Officer Giovanni Esposito, 30.
Esposito, a Hillside resident, graduated Hillside High School and studied Business at Montclair State University before becoming a police officer in his home town in November 2017, according to his Facebook page.
Esposito, who was off-duty at the time, was killed in an early morning crash involving a tractor trailer on Route 1 in Linden on Monday at around 2:15 a.m. (See Related: Details Released In Fatal Rt. 1 Crash Of Hillside Police Officer)
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Esposito and a 29-year-old passenger from Colonia, were in a 2017 Acura RDX that was driving north on Route 1 when it collided with 2007 International tractor-trailer cab. Esposito and his passenger were transported to Newark University Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Linden's 6th Ward Councilman John Francis Roman shared his sentiments over the tragedy.
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"The accident that occurred this morning in Linden's 6th Ward is heartbreaking... Again, another young promising public servant taken too early. God bless his soul. Rest Easy Giovanni. The other person in the car has been severely injured. Prayers go out to all those involved," Roman posted on Facebook.
Neighboring police department also shared their condolences on social media:
Pray for Officer Giovanni Esposito family, friends, and the Hillside Police Department. He died in an early morning off duty car crash. pic.twitter.com/yApMh7KzYU
— New Jersey State PBA (@NJSPBA) October 15, 2018
The men and women of the Cranford Police Department send our thoughts and prayers of support to the family and friends of Officer Giovanni Esposito and the entire Hillside Police Department. Officer Esposito died in a off duty car crash last night in... https://t.co/7vHcq6MB8G
— Cranford Police Dept (@CranfordPD) October 15, 2018
The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad extends our deepest condolences to the Hillside Police Department on the loss off Officer Giovanni Esposito. Officer Esposito was killed early this morning in an off-duty motor vehicle accident in Linden. pic.twitter.com/yJKUpIPcuv
— Summit EMS (@SummitEMS) October 15, 2018
Our sincerest condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of @HillsidePD Officer Giovanni Esposito who was killed and another person seriously injured when an SUV collided with a truck in Linden early Mondayhttps://t.co/4tLaJyQbrO
— Monmouth Prosecutor (@MonCoProsecutor) October 15, 2018
"The men and women of the Hillside Police Department are deeply saddened to have learned the news of a vehicle crash last night in Linden, N.J. which took the life of one of our own, Officer Giovanni Esposito," Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi stated. "Officer Esposito was hired less than a year ago, in November of 2017. He then graduated at the top of his class from the Essex County Police Academy. Officer Esposito loved his job and was a warm and friendly person who was well-liked by all who knew him. He prided himself on serving the community of Hillside with diligence and compassion. His death is a profound loss to our department and we will miss him terribly. We wish his family solace and comfort during this extremely difficult time."
(Images via Hillside Police Department)
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