POINT TAKEN: Princeton police hero still remembered 54 years later

By Fred Tuccillo
   Last Aug. 19, Bob Ellis, of Mercerville, noticed that the flag outside Princeton Township police headquarters was flying at half-mast. He had noticed this in previous years, but this time he was moved to e-mail a thank you to township police Chief Mark V. Emann.
   The flag is lowered every year on that date in memory of Mr. Ellis’ father, Billie D. Ellis, a Princeton Township police officer who died Aug. 19, 1955, trying to rescue two teenage boys whose canoe had overturned in the Millstone River. All three perished that day in rough currents caused by the high waters and flooding that had followed Hurricane Diana.
   While Bob Ellis was composing his e-mail, another Princeton Township police officer, Christopher King, was riding in the Police Unity Tour — an annual bicycle ride to Washington, D.C. — with a photo of Officer Billie E. Ellis taped to the frame of his bike. He had attended ceremonies at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial before, but this was his first time in the bike ride, and he had wanted to dedicate the three-day trek to Officer Ellis.
   ”It’s recommended that you dedicate the ride to a police officer who either died that year or an officer who died in years past,” Officer King said. “There is actually a blue wristband you buy — one to wear on the ride and the other to present to a family member to let them know you are riding in memory of their loved one.”
   But the Police Benevolent Association had not been able to locate a survivor of Officer Ellis so Chris King simply taped his photo to the bike and rode “unofficially” in his honor.
   This August, Officer King’s ride to D.C. in honor of Officer Billie D. Ellis will be official, and Bob Ellis said he plans to be on hand for the sendoff.
   ”I’m really glad that this is going on,” Mr. Ellis said. “I definitely want to be there for the start of it.”
   Bob Ellis was 4 years old Aug. 19, 1955, when his father, who was actually off duty, picked up a radio call about two young men in distress near the Millstone Dam. The incident was described in the Aug. 25, 1955, edition of The Princeton Packet, with a front page headline that read: “Three Die in Mishap on River: Policeman, 2 Boys Drowned in Grim Millstone Tragedy.”
   ”I still have that Princeton Packet,” Bob Ellis said. “I’ve saved it, and every once in a while, I’ll look at it and read it again.”
   The story explained how Patrick Maloney and Kenneth Werkman Jr., both 15, had set out in a canoe near the dam separating the Millstone from Lake Carnegie. As they had done on earlier outings, they planned to paddle across the river toward the dam and then carry the canoe on to the lake.
   ”As the boys crossed, they were caught in the swirling rapids churned up by water pouring over the dam,” The Packet reported. “The canoe was sucked against the dam, swung around so that it was facing downstream and flipped over. The boys were not seen again.”
   Officer Ellis was one of several officers who arrived on the scene during the next 30 minutes. They boarded two rowboats and set out for the dam. But one boat capsized, and the other, manned by Officer Ellis, was repeatedly slammed against the dam, The Packet reported.
   Officer Ellis, “jumped into the water, and when he did the boat was pushed out from under him by raging water. The crowd lining the shore — more than 100 by this time — shouted to him to get back to the boat.
   ”He attempted to return, but couldn’t fight the turbulence of the water. He submerged and came to the surface twice, still swimming, but the third time he came to the surface, his body was motionless.”
   The story included details on the deceased officer’s family and on his funeral arrangements. It reported that Billie D. Ellis, 31, of 228 N. Harrison St., was survived by his wife, Barbara, sons, Robert, 4, and Gary, 7. (A daughter, Sally, was born later.)
   The Rev. William L. Tucker, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, presided over funeral services at the Kimble Funeral Home. Burial was in Princeton Cemetery.
   ”I was 4 years old so I have a very little bit of memory of it,” Bob Ellis told me last week.A lot I just heard from my mother and everyone later on — how brave he was and everything, giving his life to try and save somebody. It’s too bad it didn’t work out.”
   Officer King already has seen Billie D. Ellis’ name among the many etched on the wall of the Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial at Judiciary Square in Washington. “Everyone in the department knows his story,” he said.
   But seeing any fallen officer’s name on the wall and the impact it has on survivors is an unforgettable experience, Officer King said.
   ”When you’re walking the wall, you can see that family members have put letters near some of the names. You see a letter written by the son of a fallen officer, for example. It’s heart wrenching.”
   The bike ride to D.C. often is undertaken by police officers riding in honor of a comrade recently killed in the line of duty.
   ”It’s easy to forget about the officers who died 20 or 30 or more years ago,” Officer King said. Which is exactly why someone should remember them, he said.
   It’s been 54 years since Princeton residents first read about the death of Officer Ellis. An editorial in The Packet that week predicted: “Billie D. Ellis will be remembered as a Princeton police officer who died heroically trying to save the lives of others.”
   The Princeton Township Police Department and Officer King have made it their business to keep that promise. He needs to raise at least $1,600 in donations to make the three-day trip to Washington this August.
   Donations may be sent to:
   Officer Christopher King
   Princeton Township PD
   1 Valley Road, Princeton, N.J., 08542. 
    Fred Tuccillo is managing editor of The Princeton Packet. His e-mail address is [email protected]