Hamilton cop died from self-inflicted gunshot wound
HAMILTON » The Hamilton Police officer who was involved in a two-vehicle accident Monday died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, according to an autopsy performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office.
His death was ruled a suicide. Hamilton Police Officer Thomas “Tom” White, 44, shot and killed himself around 3:10 p.m. Monday while sitting inside his truck. Sources who knew White told The Trentonian he recently complained about “not feeling well.” They were unable to elaborate further.
White’s death stunned the Hamilton Township community this week, especially at Reynolds Middle School, where White worked as a school resource officer.
In an overwhelming show of support, many Reynolds students on Tuesday went to school wearing blue, and the school had several displays paying tribute to White for his service.
One message at the front entrance of the middle school said, “You will be missed, Officer White.” Meanwhile, several flower bouquets and a floating blue-colored balloon graced the officer’s empty parking spot at the school on Tuesday.
Another message at the school featured the following quote from the late, great American author John Steinbeck: “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone,” adding, “You are missed, Officer White.”
One of the many students wearing blue at Reynolds Middle School on Tuesday was an eighth-grader named Brian. “He was really a nice guy. He brightened everyone’s day,” Brian said of White. “I feel sorry for his family and friends.”
Peter, another eighth-grader at Reynolds, also wore blue on Tuesday and said that White “was always positive, and he was always making sure everyone was doing their work in their classroom and helping everyone out. He was very nice in the school to everyone.”
The somber tributes come at the end of the schoolyear. Wednesday is the last day of school for students in the district.
Car accident
After White shot himself Monday, his truck collided with a white commercial van in the 2700 block of Nottingham Way.
It’s unclear whether White was literally driving at the time he shot himself, or if his truck rolled away after he died.
White was off-duty at the time, and no other injuries were reported.
“Officer Thomas White was a fine officer that performed his job well and was extremely wellliked,” Hamilton Police Chief James Collins said Tuesday in a written statement. “He will be greatly missed. On behalf of the entire Hamilton Police Division, our thoughts and prayers are with Officer White’s family.”
White was hired by the Hamilton Police Division and attended the Mercer County Police Academy, graduating in July 2009. He was assigned to the Patrol Bureau for seven years, where he received numerous awards. In February 2016, White was assigned to the Educational Services Unit as a LEAD officer (Law Enforcement Against Drugs), permanently assigned to Reynolds Middle School. His duties included teaching various grades in bicycle safety and the LEAD program, as well as serving as Officer Friendly.
Dr. Scott Rocco, superintendent of the Hamilton Township School District, on Tuesday wrote a letter expressing condolences.
“It is with deep sadness that I notify you of the passing of Hamilton Police Officer Tom White, who served as our LEAD Officer at Reynolds Middle School, the co-director of Hamilton’s PAL Safety Town and a parent in our school district,” Rocco said in his letter. “Officer White was known to so many in our school community and had a positive influence on all who met him. He was respected by the faculty and staff of Reynolds and across our district, adored by the students he worked with, and a positive influence in our schools.”
Rocco said the district has established support teams at Reynolds Middle School and Alexander Elementary School “to assist students and staff during this difficult time.”
Public recognition
On Jan. 25, the Hamilton Township Board of Education recognized its six school resource officers, including Officer White, in honor of the Jan. 9 National Law Enforcement Day.
White received a certificate of appreciation at that school board meeting. He also received praise from a Reynolds Middle School student.
“Thank you for helping us in protecting the school,” a Reynolds student said in a letter that was read at the Jan. 25 school board meeting. “Thank you for being kind, helpful, nice, cheerful and respectful to our school. It takes a lot to be a police officer, and you are the best. Thank you for making our school a happy and better place to be.”
Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede on Tuesday issued a statement mourning White’s death.
“The loss of any member of our Township Government family is always heartbreaking, but when we lose someone who has made such a positive impact in the lives of our community’s children — as was the case with Police Officer Tom White — it is even more heartbreaking,” she said. “Through his work in our schools as a ‘Law Enforcement Against Drugs’ officer and his leadership in our popular Police Athletic League ‘Safety Town’ program that generations of Hamiltonians have benefitted from, Officer White has touched many lives and worked to ensure the safety of our young people. For that, our community will always be grateful.”
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri, who has supported Hamilton’s anti-drug school initiatives since becoming the county’s top law-enforcement official, on Tuesday issued a statement recognizing the impact White had on the community.
“Officer Tom White touched the lives of thousands of young people in Hamilton Township through his work with the LEAD program, as Officer Friendly, and as the director of Safety Town,” Onofri said. “He will be sorely missed, as an officer and a good friend.”
People who knew White said he was a married father of two children who attend Hamilton public schools. He was one of the 169 sworn officers on the Hamilton Police force.
Retired Hamilton Police Officer Ralph Mastrangelo, who currently serves as an elected Hamilton councilman, on Tuesday described White as “a great guy” who was “always smiling.”
“It is very tragic and my thoughts and prayers go out to Officer White’s family,” Mastrangelo said. “It’s definitely a loss to the community. He will be well missed.”
Suicide prevention
Hamilton Township and other police forces in the region have previously lost officers to suicide in the past decade. Hamilton’s Deputy Police Chief George Zimmer Jr. committed suicide in July 2008; Ewing Patrolman Matthew Wallace took his own life in September 2013 and Trenton K-9 Officer Ed Leopardi died from a selfinflicted gunshot wound in September 2016.
For 24-hour depression support and suicide prevention, contact the National Suicide Helpline at 1-800-273-8255 or NJ Hopeline, njhopeline.com, at 1-855-654-6735 or 1-855-NJ-Hopeline.
Anyone with information regarding White’s death and the car crash is asked to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 989-6317.