Roselle Park cop admitted drinking after Matawan crash, before killing himself, records show

MATAWAN - Edward Nortrup, the Roselle Park police officer who fatally shot himself after a crash in Matawan, admitted to borough police before his death that he'd had some drinks, according to a borough police report.

Nortrup, 39, of Aberdeen, hit two parked cars and a tree and partially rolled his 2019 Nissan Pathfinder before coming to rest near 208 Broad St. just two minutes after noon on Jan. 19, according to police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

According to a crash investigation report by borough police, Nortrup "did admit to responding patrol officers that he had a couple of alcoholic beverages." The Asbury Park Press obtained a copy of the report through an Open Public Records Act request.

Nortrup had been driving east on Broad Street, toward South Street, when he "crossed over to the opposite side of the road, struck the curb and continued to travel off the road," according to the report.

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Nortrup's Pathfinder hit the rear end of a 2019 Hyundai Elantra parked in a driveway at 11 South St., then the rear end of a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze parked at in a driveway at 212 Broad St., and then a tree before it "continued on crossing over the driveway of 208 Broad (St.)," according to the report.

The Nissan "turned sideways and flipped onto the passenger side of the vehicle and continued across the driveway and front lawn ... ultimately coming to final rest ride side up, half on the front lawn of 208 Broad (St.) and the roadway."

"As first responders left the vehicle to get equipment to help with the extraction, the driver located a firearm and fatally shot himself in the head," according to a Jan. 19 email from Christopher Swendeman, a spokesman for Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Earlier: Roselle Park cop ID'ed after crash, fatal self-inflicted gunshot

The investigating officer attributed the crash to unsafe speed and driver inattention, and reported that Nortrup showed signs of alcohol use, according to notations in the report. The report shows no test was administered to determine whether Nortrup was, in fact, intoxicated, or how much.

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Nortrup "was a 13 year veteran of the Roselle Park Police Department," his chief, Daniel J. McCaffery," posted on Facebook Jan. 20. "Patrolman Nortrup was a co-worker, friend, and a brother."

A 2007 graduate of the John H. Stamler Police Academy, Nortrup worked in the department's Detective Bureau and served with the Union County Emergency Response Team.

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Besides his wife and 15-month-old daughter, Nortrup left behind "a large family of parents, siblings and cousins," according a gofundme account started on his daughter's behalf.

"Always willing to help others, Patrolman Nortrup was a well-respected member of the law-enforcement community, and will be sorely missed," McCafferey wrote on Jan. 20. "We would ask that you respect the privacy of the family during this time of grieving."

There will be another fundraiser for Nortrup's family on Feb. 19, at the Sun Tavern at 600 Westfield Ave. West in Roselle Park, according to a flier the PBA posted to Facebook on Thursday.

If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are just in need of someone to talk to, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Alex N. Gecan: 732-643-4043; agecan@gannettnj.com; @GeeksterTweets