Money received will help pay for bills not covered by insurance
By:David Koch
MANSFIELD Lt. William Kerr of the Mansfield Township Police Department had just put on his civilian clothes and was ready to go home for the day when he heard the call: "officer down."
The officer was Sgt. Kyle Wilson from Chesterfield, and the day was Oct. 12. On that day, Lt. Kerr and Sgt. Wilson, along with two military police officers, were shot by Loren Janeczko, 29, an Army reservist from Fort Dix who went on a violent rampage before being fatally wounded at the Columbus Farmer’s Market in Springfield.
Almost three months later, Lt. Kerr’s left arm is still in a sling and Sgt. Wilson still has a bullet in his back.
Both men were given a check for $1,000 from the Burlington County 200 Club at the Mansfield Township Committee meeting Dec. 26.
The check will be used to pay for any extra medical expenses not covered by health insurance, said club President Terry Mulligan.
The 200 Club is a nonprofit organization of private citizens who provide money for fallen members of police, ambulance and emergency service squads in Burlington County.
"We were established to help public service employees in Burlington County, so that they may help us," said Mr. Mulligan.
Both officers were shot trying to stop Mr. Janeczko, who had been discharged earlier that day by military personnel for being mentally unstable, officials said.
While military police officers were helping Mr. Janeczko clean out his locker, the reservist pulled out a handgun and shot two Army officials.
He then stole a Department of Defense car, and fled from the Army base.
Sgt. Wilson was searching for the suspect near the village of Crosswicks, when Mr. Janeczko ambushed the officer and shot him in the lower back.
Mr. Janeczko then stole Sgt. Wilson’s patrol SUV, before stopping at the Columbus Farmer’s Market on Route 206.
At the Farmer’s Market, Mr. Janeczko shot Lt. Kerr three times, once in each leg, and once in his left arm, before being fatally wounded himself by Chief James Humble of Mansfield.
After the incident, Lt. Kerr was taken to Cooper University Medical Hospital in Camden.
While in the hospital, Lt. Kerr had three surgeries performed on his arm within five days. Both bones in his left arm had been fractured, and Lt. Kerr now suffers permanent damage in that arm.
"If I had to do it all over, I would do it again," said Lt. Kerr.
Lt. Kerr has been a police officer in Mansfield for 24 years. After last week’s presentation, he said he would be retiring from the police force because of his damaged arm.
Sgt. Wilson was taken to Capital Health System, Fuld Campus, after being shot. He said he is still in physical therapy and doesn’t know when he will be able to return to work.
"There isn’t a day that goes by when you don’t think about it," said Sgt. Wilson after the meeting. "It was an unfortunate situation and I’m glad of the outcome."