JACKSON – The life and service of Lakewood Police Officer Nicklas Shimonovich was recalled during a special gathering at the intersection of Thompson Bridge Road and West Veterans Highway.
Thompson Bridge Road in Jackson was dedicated to Shimonovich who wore badge #392. The dedication included a memorial sign that will now be displayed to honor the 23-year-old fallen Lakewood Police Officer.
He is survived by his parents, both Lakewood Police officers, Detective Sgt. Jeannette and Lt. Robert Shimonovich, and his brother, Lakewood Patrolman Leonardo Shimonovich.
Shimonovich was fatally injured in 2020 while off-duty when his motorcycle struck a mailbox and utility trailer parked off Thompson Bridge Road. He was a graduate of Jackson Memorial High School, where he competed at the varsity level for both football and wrestling.
Photo courtesy Lakewood Police
Lt. Robert Shimonovich told The Jackson Times his son always wanted to be a Lakewood policeman, noting that Nicklas turned down a college wrestling scholarship to become a law enforcement officer. “When he turned 18 and told me he wanted to be a police officer he told me that ‘when you used to drop us off at the baby sitter’s house and you used to walk upstairs in your blues to pick me up, I knew then that is what I wanted to do’.”
“That was his childhood dream. Nick didn’t just want to be a cop. He was set on being a Lakewood cop like his parents. He was so set on that. Nick loved serving the Lakewood community. He fulfilled that dream,” Lt. Shimonovich added.
He added that his son, “didn’t only protect, he made a point to stop and talk to Lakewood residents. He had just gotten onto the SWAT team. His ambitions ended too soon. He died on this road. He would be so honored by something like this.”
“We’ve done so many things to honor him. We have a school scholarship that has been running for three years now at Jackson Memorial High School, a school varsity scholarship for football and wrestling that students get and we’ve memorialized him at the museum at Lakewood and in several other ways,” Robert Shimonovich said.
Shimonovich added that his son’s girlfriend Brianna who was present at the dedication had plans of buying a home and starting a family. “They were together for three years and that was cut short as well.”
Nicklas Shimonovich, a graduate of both the New Jersey State Corrections Academy and the Monmouth County Police Academy, joined the Lakewood Police Force in 2018. He was assigned to the Lakewood department’s patrol division on the evening shift.
Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina, left, speaks to Jackson residents/Lakewood police officers Jeannette and Robert Shimonovich after presenting them a proclamation on behalf of the township. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The dedication ceremony featured family friend Cori Scotti singing “God Bless America” and Robert and Jeannette Shimonovich both speaking about their son.
His mother said, “despite the tragedy of his untimely passing, we choose to focus on the beauty and the joy he brought into our lives rather than the sadness of his loss. He was a beacon of light that shone bright and showed us the profound beauty that exists within the human spirit.”
“It is an honor for my family and I to have our Niklas to be memorialized in this way. It is very overwhelming to have the community, the law enforcement community, our family come out in such great numbers. It is a great feeling,” Robert Shimonovich said.
Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn presented a proclamation during the ceremony. He was joined by fellow commissioners Virginia Haines and Bobbi Jo Crea as well as Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Lakewood Police Department and the Jackson Police Department.
“I’m pretty sure Niklas is looking down smiling right now. No one knows why some people leave us so early in life but I am sure in his world, God had a better plan. We have to always remember all the good that Niklas had done on Earth and all the people he has touched and all the people he loved and the things we have to continue to build on that he started when he was here,” Quinn said.
A vintage 1941 Lakewood police car was part of the display seen at Thompson Bridge Road in Jackson. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Jackson Mayor Michael Reina presented a resolution from 30th District Senator Robert Singer who was unable to be present. He also presented a proclamation from Jackson Township “on behalf of every single resident.”
“Our thoughts and our prayers are with your family. Nick will never be forgotten. The words we heard today are from the heart and there is nothing stronger than the heart,” Mayor Reina added.
Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz presented the closing remarks, “for those of us who have enjoyed living in or around Jackson Township we know for all of its expansive geography, Jackson is as much a small town as it is a large one. Our neighbors become our friends and even become a part of our family.”
“For those of us who have become part of the law enforcement community we also know the blessing of having an expanded family as well,” the chief added.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, Lakewood Police Lt. Robert Shimonovich, his wife Lakewood Detective Sgt. Jeannette Shimonovich, Ocean County Commissioners Gary Quinn, Virginia Haines, Bobby Jo Crea, Jackson Mayor Michael Reina, Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn and Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Chief Kunz said, “today we have come together to ensure that our neighbor, our friend, our law enforcement brother remains as much a part of our family and our community as he has been in our collective past.”
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave,” the chief said quoting the Dakota tribe. The ceremony concluded with Scotti singing, “America the Beautiful.”
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