Beloved Neptune Police Officer, Manasquan Mom Passes Away

MANASQUAN, NJ — On Monday, the first woman ever to serve in the 142-year history of the Neptune City Police Department died.

The officer is Erin Patrice Burns-Rubas, who died Monday at the age of 44.

Burns-Rubas "passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family," according to her obituary.

Her father and grandfather were both police officers: Her father retired as a lieutenant with the Wall Township Police and her grandfather was a New Jersey state trooper.

Born in Point Pleasant, she was raised in Brick and lived in Manasquan for most of her life. She went to high school at St. Rose High School in Belmar where she played softball, was on the swim team and cheered. As a young woman, she decided to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather and she pursued a career in law enforcement.

Burns graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy, and she got her start as a class-two special police officer in Manasquan and Asbury Park.

In 2003, she was hired as the first female police officer in Neptune City. In 2007, she got a major promotion when she became a detective for the Hudson County Prosecutor's office, where she was assigned to the Major Crimes and Forensics Unit.

"(Erin) became a highly decorated homicide crime-scene detective with her forensic work leading to arrests and convictions in many high-profile and well-publicized murder cases," read her obituary. "Because of her exceptional forensic skills, Erin received numerous service awards."

According to her obituary, Burns had "a love of crime scene work." She even founded an instructional crime scene school, the Northeast Crime Scene Institute, where she taught police officers how to gather forensic evidence from crime scenes.

However:

"As great as a police officer as she was, Erin was an even better wife to her loving husband, Mike, and her two amazing sons; who she loved more than anything in this world," said the Neptune City Police Department in a statement on Facebook.

"Although she loved police work, her greatest joy in life was being the mother to her two boys," read her obituary. "Erin was extremely blessed to be present for and to raise her boys through their early formative years. Even through illness, she was a constant and powerful presence in their lives where she instilled the family’s core values: strength, kindness and respect."

She is survived by her husband, Michael Rubas, her sons and her parents.

Neptune City Police said the following on Facebook:

"Erin, you fought vigorously and valiantly, like a true warrior! You remained positive, never lost hope, and refused to ever give up. You will be missed terribly, but know that you made a positive impact on this world, and the memories of you will last a lifetime."

Visitation will be this Sunday, July 23 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Road in Wall Township.

Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Monday, July 24 in St. Catharine’s Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Metavivor, Metastatic Breast Cancer Research at https://metavivor.org