A Community Mourns

These are tough times for the small community of Ocean Gate and many residents will gather today and say goodbye to a police officer who by all accounts went above and beyond on a regular basis. By now you have heard or read about the tragic death of 32-year old Jason Marles early Thanksgiving morning just after he had worked an extra shift on patrol for drunk drivers. The 9-year police veteran was on his way home to Point Pleasant Beach when his vehicle was hit from behind on the Garden State Parkway, struck a guardrail, overturned and burst into flames. The irony is that a short time after he was looking for drunk drivers, Marles life was ended by one as a 31-year old Manchester Township man is currently in jail on charges of vehicular homicide and drunken driving.

Under any circumstances this story would be a sad one but it’s maximized by the fact that Marles was the married father of two young children, was on his way home to spend Thanksgiving with his family and was one of just 7 police officers in Ocean Gate. In the days since the tragedy there have been countless stories from residents about the positive impact in made in the community and the little things he did for people that meant so much. While the loss to his family is the greatest there is a void in Ocean Gate that will be impossible to replace. I would venture to say in just nine years he built a legacy that will never be forgotten by his fellow police officers and the community he cared so much about.

Today for me is not the day to talk about the person who allegedly is responsible for taking a life or the gutless passengers who fled the scene out of fear instead of staying to see if they could help possibly save a life. Today is when many who knew Marles and just as many who did not will flock to Carmona-Bolen Home for Funerals on Main Street in Toms River from 2-9pm to pay their final respects.

Today is when that circle of people who chose law enforcement for a career pulls together for a fellow officer and his family, especially his wife Ginny. Today is also the day in which we can show our admiration for a life-long Ocean County resident by donating to a college fund that has been set up for his children, 5-year old Taryn and 4-year old Landon. Donations by be mailed to the funeral home or to Ocean Gate PBA Local #352 at P.O. Box 562 in Island Heights.

Jay Marles short life can be summed up in his own obituary….”he wasn’t a cop, he was a peace officer.” We can only hope he will find everlasting peace.