Jersey City Police Lieutenant Christopher Robateau killed on NJ Turnpike
Jersey City NJ Jan 5 2018 A Jersey City police lieutenant on the job for 23 years was killed on the New Jersey Turnpike early this morning.
Christopher Robateau, 49, of Carteret, exited his car to help a motorist on his way to work this morning and was struck by a vehicle, according to Mayor Steve Fulop.
The incident happened just after 6:30 a.m. near mile marker 104, city spokeswoman Kim Scalcione said. That would place the incident near Exit 14.
The Jersey City police lieutenant killed when struck by a vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike this morning was described as a highly decorated officer dedicated to his family and to protecting the people of Jersey City.
“We consider him on duty being that Lt. Robateau got out of his car to help someone else which is what we want all our officers to be doing all the time regardless of their location or time of day.,” Fulop said on Facebook.
Robateau leaves behind a wife and three children.
“The only thing he loved more than the police department was his wife and children,” Deputy Police Chief Daniel Sollitti told The Jersey Journal. “His family was everything in his heart.”
Robateau’s friends and colleagues are remembering him as a nice guy with an infectious laugh.
“He was a good person,” said Councilman Rich Boggiano, a retired police detective who taught Robateau at the police academy. “He was one of my finest students.”
He first joined the force in 1994 and was last promoted to lieutenant in October 2014. He worked out of the east district, which is located in Downtown Jersey City.
“He was highly respected by his superiors, his subordinates and his peers,” Sollitti said. “Jersey City is a better place because Chris Robateau spent his career in this department.”
“Lt. Robateau served with distinction with fellow Hudson County Prosecutor detectives while on-loan to this office for a number of years,” Esther Suarez, the county prosecutor, said in a statement. “Our prayers and our deepest sympathies go out to his family and his colleagues at the JCPD.”
