Officer Jason Marles #271
12/19/1977-11/25/2010
Jason was born 12/19/1977 and resided in Seaside Heights before moving to Bayville N.J. "Jay" as he was known was married to Virginia Small and is the father of two children, Taryn and Landon.
Jay was a graduate of H&M Potter School in Bayville and Central Regional High School class of '96. Over the years Jay was employed by Old Time Tavern of Toms Rover, Carusso Excavating of Ocean Twp. N.J., and the Berkeley Twp. Department of Public Works. He began his police career as a seasonal Police Officer with the Seaside Heights Police Department in May of 1999 and graduated the Ocean County Police Academy in December of that year.
Jay was hired by the Ocean Gate Police Department in March of 2001 where he served until his death on November 25th, 2010. Jay was a senior patrolman in the Department and eligible for a future promotion to Sergeant. Jay was a pillar within the agency and a favorite to many people in the community.
On November 24th, 2010 Jay was assigned patrol duty from 3 P.M-11 P.M and then worked a special patrol enforcement detail related to impaired or intoxicated drivers known as DWI Patrol. The special patrol enforcement detail was scheduled from 11 P.M on 11/24/2010 through 3 A.M on 11/25/2010. At approximately 3:08 A.M. on November 25th Jay left Police Headquarters' for the last time.
Jay was driving home to Point Pleasant Beach, N.J on the Garden State Parkway and was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed at approximately 3:33 A.M. near mile marker 83.3 Northbound. The impact forced Jays vehicle into a guardrail along the right shoulder of the highway causing the vehicle to overturn and catch fire. As a result of the violent impacts sustained in the crash, Jay did not survive.
The Driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash was charged with Driving While Intoxicated by the N.J State Police. The shocking news of this tragic event spread quickly among friends and his co-workers. His presence as a Police Officer and Friend to many will always be greatly missed.