Authorities hope the bounty will generate leads as detectives look for men who ambushed a pair of plainclothes detectives Tuesday night.
By Matt Skoufalos | August 10, 2018
Camden County Prosecutor’s Office logo. Credit: CCPO.
UPDATE (August 13, 2018) — Police organizations are offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men wanted in the ambush shooting of two plainclothes Camden County detectives.
The Camden County Policeman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 351, the Camden County Metro Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 218, the New Jersey State FOP Lodge, and the National Police Defense Foundation have pledged $60,000 in bounty for the apprehension of the suspects.
“We believe this reward will assist our law enforcement partners in bringing these cowards to justice,” NJ State FOP Lodge President Bob Fox said in a statement.
Camden County Metro Lodge 218 President Rick Kunkel said the organization has been “by the side of the officers since the incident occurred, working with the families to provide comfort and support in their time of need.
“These are the kind of criminals that jails are built for, and we will do everything in our power to aid in their apprehension,” Kunkel said in a statement.
“It’s only a matter of time before the suspects will be apprehended,” said Joseph Occhipinti of the National Police Defense Foundation in a statement.
Suspects wanted in connection with the shooting of two Camden County Metro Police detectives. Credit: CCPO.
The attack happened around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 7, while other officers participated in National Night Out, a community-building event for police departments nationwide.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO), the officers were not in uniform at the time, and were traveling in an unmarked vehicle in the Bergen Square neighborhood of Camden City.
While stopped at the intersection of Broadway and Walnut Streets, the detectives were allegedly approached by two men, who opened fire on the vehicle, and then fled the area. One of the detectives returned fire, the CCPO noted.
The suspects remain at large. On August 13, the CCPO released video footage of a person wanted in connection with the shooting.
The detectives have not been identified, but were treated and released from Cooper University Hospital this week, according to a Camden County spokesperson. Both were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call CCPO Sgt. Vince McCalla (856-225-8569), CCPO Major Crimes Det. Matt McKeown (609-820-7192), or to e-mail ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
