Retired NJ Officer Killed In PA Snowmobile Crash

TOTOWA, NJ — Family members and fellow officers are mourning a recently-retired Paterson police sergeant who died in a snowmobile crash along a reservoir in the Pennsylvania Poconos over the weekend.

Anthony DeSopo, 55, had retired from the Paterson Police Department a little over a year ago.

"He was a beloved motor traffic officer before serving the end of his career on patrol," the department said in an Instagram post remembering him.

The crash happened in Palmyra Township on Friday evening. According to Pennsylvania State Police, DeSopo and another man were riding snowmobiles on Lake Wallenpaupack when they both hit rocks along the shore line, and were thrown from their vehicles.

DeSopo, of Totowa, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other man, identified as James A. Fontanella, was later flown to a local hospital for treatment.

DeSopo was a motorcycle instructor and a firearms instructor for Paterson Police, according to his obituary. He was also vice president of the St. Michael's Marshals Motorcycle Club, where he was known as "Tripod."

"He was larger than the life he lived—truly the best brother anyone could ask for," the club said in a statement. "Always there, offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and maybe even a cigar or a scotch."

A visitation for DeSopo will be held at Festa Memorial Funeral Home (111 Union Boulevard, Totowa) on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be on Thursday at 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home, with Mass to follow at 10:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 790 Murray Avenue, Paterson. A procession will accompany DeSopo from the funeral home to the church.

He will be interred at Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum in Totowa following the church service.

DeSopo is the second New Jersey police officer to die in an out-of-state snowmobile crash this month. Ridgefield Park Officer Steven Fernandez was killed on Feb. 2 after crashing down a steep embankment in upstate New York, officials said.

Pennsylvania State Police will continue to investigate the crash.