Susan Loyer

@SusanLoyerMyCJ

Calling hours for Detective Matthew Kurtz will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Kurtz's funeral will be at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

SAYREVILLE – The cause of death of the borough police officer who was found shot to death Monday morning in a vehicle next to the former Amboy Cinemas has been ruled a suicide.

Funeral services for Detective Matthew A. Kurtz, 34, will be Thursday 10:15 a.m. from the Maliszewski Memorial Home 121 Main St., followed by an 11 a.m. Liturgy of The Word at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church in South Amboy, with burial to follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, South Amboy, according to Maliszewski Memorial Home.



Calling hours at the funeral home will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

WATCH: Hero Sayreville cop Matthew Kurtz found dead in car

“We are gratified by the outpouring of support that we have received from our community, as well as from our brothers and sisters in law enforcement during this very difficult time," Chief of Police John J. Zebrowski said Tuesday in a statement. "We continue to grieve for the loss of Matthew and his family remains steadfastly in our prayers.

“Matthews’s death sheds more light on an insidious predator that has taken his life and so many others in law enforcement as well. Sadly, suicide remains a leading cause of police officer deaths. Thus, the method by which he lost his life does not make our loss any less tragic. In fact, it leaves only a greater void as many questions will remain unanswered.

“Matthew was clearly a 'cop’s cop.' He was smart, hardworking, a volunteer in our community and a leader within the PBA. Incidents like these cause us to consider that while we have equipped and trained our Officers well for the external forces that remain a daily threat, more remains to be done to reduce those internal factors that are equally threatening.

“I am reminded of the last paragraph in the Police Officer Prayer to Saint Michael which reads: 'We will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of men.' The men and women of the Sayreville Police Department are confident that Matthew is now on that Watch and adeptly handling those duties.

“Once again, we greatly appreciate the respectful and considerate support that has been received.”

A hero with deep roots in the borough, Kurtz, is being mourned by the tight-knit community.

"Sayreville is in deep mourning and our thoughts and our prayers are with the family of this fine young police officer," Mayor Kennedy O'Brien said. "He was one of Sayreville's finest. He was a rising star. He had commendations for bravery and heroism."

​READ:Sayreville police to be honored for house fire rescue

Kurtz, a more than nine-year veteran of the borough's police force, received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Last year, he was one of 14 first responders honored by the Middlesex County 200 Club. Kurtz and two other borough police officers received valor awards for their actions in saving the life of a local man in a house fire on Main Street on Dec. 29, 2014. He also received several awards for Meritorius Service from the Sayreville Local P.B.A. No. 98, of which he was a member.

In November, Kurtz received his gold shield and was transferred to the Investigation Division, becoming a detective.

Before he became a township police officer, Kurtz worked as a maintenance technician at Our Lady of Victories Church.

Kurtz, a lifelong resident of the borough, was married to the former Jamie Mackiel of South Amboy and has two sons, Matthew and Connor. He attended Our Lady of Victories grammar school and is a graduate of St. Mary's Regional High School in South Amboy.

"He was a really sweet young man," Councilwoman Mary Novak said. "His mother and father are lovely people. His wife is an exceptional, strong woman. The whole town is sick."

Kurtz attended grammar and high school with two of Novak's children.

"He always had that sweet wonderful smile on his face," she said. "He always had joy. He was an exceptional young man and has a lovely family. He was always helpful. We are all so sad here. We are going through the holy season here with such a heavy heart."

Expressions of sympathy to his family and fellow officers are flooding social media.

Flags in the borough and some surrounding communities are at half-staff in Kurtz's memory.



The family has asked that In lieu of flowers, donations in Kurtz's memory be made to Sayreville Association for Brain Injured Children 251 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville N.J. 08872, according to his obituary.

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 732-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com