Friends, Family Remember Newark Officer Killed in Line of Duty

More than 100 people, including a large contingent of Newark police, gathered at a Central Ward street corner Monday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Melvin Lisojo, the first Newark police officer of Hispanic descent killed in the line of duty.

During the vigil, a call went out on the police radio band asking all officers on duty to observe a moment of silence in Lisojo’s memory.

“For God to have taken Melvin in the short time that he did was because he was right with the Lord,” said Rene Lisojo, Melvin Lisojo’s brother and a sergeant with the Newark Police Department.

“Do I miss Melvin? Not a day goes by when I don’t think about him. But what helps me is my faith that one day I’ll be up there with him,” LIsojo added.

Melvin Lisojo, 35, was a passenger in a patrol car responding to a report of shots fired early on the morning of June 24, 2003, when the car was hit broadside by a drunk driver who had run a red light at 18th Avenue and Bergen Street. Lisojo and his partner both were rushed to University Hospital, where Lisojo later died. His partner survived.

The driver, who was wanted in connection with a number of incidents—including one in which he shot at Newark police—is now serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2005.

Two years ago, Councilman Carlos Gonzalez of the Newark Municipal Council, sponsored a resolution on behalf of the Hispanic Law Enforcement Society of Essex County to rename the corner of Duryea and Dickerson streets in Lisojo’s memory. Monday’s ceremony was held there, in the shadow of the county juvenile detention facility where another of Lisojo’s brothers, Juan, is employed.

Lisojo left behind a wife, Gloria, and three children, the youngest of whom, Brandon Melvin Lisojo, was just 8 years old when Lisojo was killed. Now a college-bound 18-year-old, Brandon Lisojo fought back tears as he spoke about his childhood memories of his father.

“One of the many memories I have is of the last movie we watched together. It was ‘Finding Nemo,’” Brandon Lisojo said. “Every time I watch that movie I think of my father.”

Addressing Lisojo’s fellow officers Monday, his daughter Jahaida Lisojo, 25, said, “I hope you all keep going forward and I hope he keeps protecting you every day.”

Also at the ceremony was Lisojo’s daughter Ashley, 22, and the granddaughter he never met, Delani Rivera, 4.

Although the Lisojo family expressed remorse at the loss of their father, husband and brother, there was no bitterness expressed towards the man who took his life.

“I actually told the guy who was involved with Melvin, I forgive him,” Rene Lisojo said.