Burlington County Commissioners have issued a statement on the death of state trooper Marcellus E. Bethea, who was assigned to the Moorestown station and died during training in Ewing on May 5.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer website – which cited a post on X, formerly known as Twitter – Bethea died at state police headquarters. He was training to join the elite TEAMS unit, an emergency response group, according to a statement from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
“All of Burlington County is grieving the loss of Trooper Marcellus Bethea and his sudden passing,” noted the commissioners’ statement. “He protected and selflessly served our communities as a valued member of law enforcement.
“He was also a beloved local resident who was raised in our county and graduated from Northern Burlington County Regional High School before achieving his dream of becoming a member of the New Jersey State Police.”
Officials did not immediately release Bethea’s cause of death, which is under investigation, according to Gov. Phil Murphy. The trooper served the state police for more than eight years and was a member of the 156th State Police Class.
“Like all law-enforcement officers, he bravely put himself at risk in service to others,” the commissioners’ statement added of Bethea. “His life and service will not be forgotten, and our board extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”
Bethea leaves behind his wife, Katarzyna, and their daughter, Bella. A resident of Florence, Bethea was training to become a member of the elite Technical Emergency and Mission Specialist Unit.
Murphy delivered remarks at Bethea’s funeral mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bordentown on May 15.
