ROXBURY TWP, NJ (Morris County) – Joseph Franklin, who is a retired Lieutenant from the Roxbury Twp Police Department, has died from his injuries Wednesday after being involved in a serious bicycle accident during the Police Unity Tour on Monday, May 9, according to Roxbury Twp Police Chief Marc Palanchi.
Franklin served with the department for 25 years, but his greatest contribution was the initiation of the department’s police explorer program, Explorer Post 2188 in 1991, Palanchi said.
“Over 500 young men and women participated in the Explorer’s Program during Joe’s supervision. He gave his time, energy and provided leadership and guidance to young people effortlessly. Following the example set forth by Joe, many of those explorers went on to become police officers, while others simply went on to become productive members of society,” Palanchi said.
Franklin served as a Patrolman, Traffic Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Traffic Lieutenant and Community Services Lieutenant during his career. He was a 1997 graduate of the prestigious West Point Command and Leadership program. Joe was awarded the 1993 William H. Spurgeon Leadership Award by the Boy Scouts of America, Palanchi said.
Palanchi said in his statement he saw Joe Monday at the starting line to the Unity Tour and spoke with him for about 30 minutes. Joe was enthusiastic about how much he was enjoying retirement and how great everything was going in North Carolina. He told me he had become an avid bike rider and said he started every day with a 25-35 mile ride, and then he would play golf or head to the beach. He was excited about and looking forward to the Unity Tour to ride in honor of the fallen and see all of his friends who were also making the trip.
“We shook hands, wished each other well and he told me to tell all of the guys to be safe as he rode away. A short time later he was involved in the accident.”
Far Hills police officers responded to the intersection of Route 202 and Fox Hunt Court at 12:56 p.m. on Monday for a report of a downed cyclist. As the police officers arrived on the scene, the cyclist had already been taken to the hospital by an ambulance traveling with the Police Unity Tour, police said.
“If I could sum up Joe in one word best, it would be honorable,” Palanchi said.
Even with his death, Palanchi said, Franklin was still giving by “giving the gift of life to others by donating his organs. One final heroic act.”
The Police Unity Tour was started in 1997 by Florham Park Police Officer Patrick Montuore with 18 riders and has since risen to about 1,700 officers. The bike ride to Washington D.C. is in honor of officers killed in the line of duty.
By: Jay Edwards
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