"If you met him you would never forget him," said Mount Holly Capt. Richard Spitler. "You wanted to be around him." Watch video
NJSP Trooper Sean Cullen was killed when he was hit by a car while investigating a car fire on I-295 in Deptford. Cullen joined the New Jersey State Police in 2014. (New Jersey State Police photo) MOUNT HOLLY -- It was all Sean Cullen ever talked about.
Mount Holly Police Capt. Richard Spitler said during the four years Cullen worked as a part-time Class II officer for the township, he was always focused on a single goal -- becoming a New Jersey State Trooper.
"It was his ultimate dream," Spitler said about Cullen, who left the department to become a full-time officer in Westampton Township in 2012. He spent two years there before fulfilling his dream of putting on a state trooper uniform in 2014.
"We were all very proud of him," he said.
Cullen, 31, died early Tuesday morning of injuries sustained when he was hit by a vehicle in the line of duty Monday night. State Police said he was responding to a car fire on I-295 in Deptford when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old woman, who remained at the scene.
Cullen was assigned to "Troop A" where he served at both Bunea Vista and Bellmawr Stations.
He left behind a fiance and a 9-month-old son, as well as his mother, father, a sister, and two brothers -- one who is also a state trooper.d. The family is originally from Dublin, Ireland, but came to the United States in 1988 when Cullen was just three years old, state police said.
New Jersey State Police's fallen
His death was felt throughout Burlington County, as the Cinnaminson native left an impression not only with the police departments he served, including Mount Holly and Sea Isle City, but with the Cinnaminson community where he and his family lived.
"He was a great kid," said Principal of Cinnaminson High School Darlene Llewellyn. She was the assistant principal when Cullen graduated in 2003 and saw him rise to the level of a star wrestler, becoming captain of both the wrestling and soccer teams, earning more than 100 career wins in high school and later volunteering for the school's athletic department.
"He was beloved by everybody. He was one of the good ones. We're all really distraught," said Mike McConnell, a wrestling coach and teacher at Cinnaminson High School. Cullen continued on as an All-American wrestler at Lycoming College where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice in 2007.
Sean Cullen is one of the great ones. A 2005 All-American at 133 pounds, he finished his career 94-30 and was inducted...
Posted by Lycoming Athletics on Tuesday, March 8, 2016
"The fact he was such a successful wrestler, we knew he'd accomplish his goal and be a state trooper," said McConnell.
Another wrestling coach, Kyle Hart, shared a coach with Cullen in college and got to know him better when Cullen volunteered to help out his old team.
"He always gave the most of himself that he possible could, and he never asked for anything in return," said Hart. "Everybody loved him."
Llewellyn, the principal, said she held a moment of silence for Cullen at school Tuesday morning.
"He comes from an absolutely phenomenal family," she said. "The whole thing is tragic. It's unbelievable."
In Westampton Township, Cullen only spent two years patrolling the streets, but they were more than enough to make an indelible impact on his colleagues.
"He made a lasting impression on a lot of them to which he was very close with," said Westampton Lt. Stephen Ent. "Our condolences go out to the family."
NJSP Trooper Sean Cullen, seen here when he was a Westampton police officer in 2012, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from injuries he sustained in the line of duty. (Nancy Rokos | Burlington County Times)He had many friends as well in Mount Holly, where Cullen spent the most time in uniform. Capt. Spitler said Cullen came to them after getting a start as a part-time officer in Sea Isle City, and soon became well-known as a gregarious, good-natured officer everyone loved spending time with.
"He was a vibrant, happy person," said Spitler, "You couldn't be bummed out when you were around him. He always made you smile, always made you laugh. He was truly that type of person."
Crisis counselors and chaplains are on-hand Tuesday for officers from either township to talk to about the loss.
Spitler said in the entire time he worked with Cullen, he didn't hear a single complaint about him, nor did Spitler ever hear Cullen raise his voice. On the job, Spitler said, Cullen treated everyone with the same level of respect.
"If you met him you would never forget him," said Spitler. "He has that type of personality. You wanted to be around him."
State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes and other law enforcement were gathered at the hospital into the early Tuesday morning hours.
"It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Trooper Sean Cullen, who made the ultimate sacrifice while helping those in need," said Fuentes. "His life and service to the citizens of New Jersey can be characterized as honorable, loyal, and faithful. On behalf of the New Jersey State Police family, we ask that you keep Trooper Cullen's family, friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as we deal with this painful loss."
Staff writer Andy Polhamus contributed to this report
Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.