Off-Duty Sheriff's Officer Dies In NJ Crash: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — An off-duty Ocean County Sheriff's Department officer died in a crash early Monday on Shorrock Street near the Lakewood-Brick Township border, Lakewood police said.

Officer Brian Stockhoff, 41, of Jackson was pronounced dead of his injuries at the scene, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

A passing motorist called police at 3:45 a.m. to report the crash, Staffordsmith said. First responders found Stockhoff had been driving a 2005 Toyota Sienna as he drove south on Shorrock Street toward Beaverson Boulevard. The Sienna hit a brick wall outside of Leisure Village East and came to rest a short distance away near Dumbarton Drive, Staffordsmith said.

Stockhoff had been an Ocean County Sheriff's Officer since 2007, and had been the founding officer of the sheriff's mounted unit with his horse, Sambuca, and later his horse, Kianti.

Lakewood Officer Tymur Zavalnyuk responded, as did Brick Township police, and the road was closed for more than five hours.

The crash investigation and cleanup led to a two-hour delay for students who attend Lake Riviera Middle School, which is just a short distance from the crash site.

Staffordsmith said the investigation is continuing, with investigators from the Lakewood Police Department Traffic Safety Unit and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

"We would like to thank the Brick Township Police Department, Lakewood Emergency Medical Services and the Hackensack Meridian Medic Unit for their assistance this morning," Staffordsmith said.

"In addition, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Stockhoff family and his brothers and sisters at the Ocean County Sheriff's Department."

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