Long Branch Remembers A Much-Loved Cop

LONG BRANCH, NJ - The night was cold on Nov. 20, 1997, a night Long Branch cops and the people who knew and loved Detective Sgt. Patrick A. King would rather forget.

Pat King was on duty, in uniform, standing in line waiting for his dinner at a local Chinese restaurant when a man who had made it his mission to kill a cop that night fired two shots into Pat King's head.

Pat King fell where he stood. He left his wife Maureen and two young teenage sons, Patrick and Todd and his loving family. He was a 22-year veteran of the Long Branch police force and the most highly decorated office in the department.

The Long Branch Police Department will host a memorial service in his honor tonight, outside the police department near the memorial garden. The ceremony will start with a moment of silence at 8:20 p.m., the time of the murder. Then "Taps" will be played.

"We hope to see you at this event to celebrate the life of Detective Sgt. Pat King and that you bring a story or two to share after the ceremony," according to the police department's Facebook page.

Uniforms are not required for the event and anyone is welcome to attend.

Visitors are asked to R.S.V.P. for a headcount.

For more information, please e-mail khughes@longbranch.org or call Kelly at 732-222-1000 ext. 1910

Photos: Courtesy of the Long Branch Police Department