WHEREAS, Sergeant Popolizio was thirty-three years old, and a loving and devoted husband, and father of four children, who resided with his family in Roseland, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Popolizio graduated from the 102nd Class of the Newark Police Academy in 1995, and, like two of his siblings, served and protected the people of Newark as a police officer; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Popolizio was a dedicated and respected supervisor, and known as a gentleman among his fellow officers; and

WHEREAS, during his career, Sergeant Popolizio was recognized for his bravery, and distinguished himself by chasing armed suspects, who fired at him; and by helping to save three children from a burning building, then humbly describing his efforts as simply "all in a day's work"; and

WHEREAS, on March 3, 2007, Sergeant Popolizio tragically lost his life, while driving his police vehicle in pursuit of a suspect who had escaped in a police vehicle; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Popolizio's selfless devotion to public service and his numerous acts of heroism in the protection of others make him a true role model for all New Jerseyans and, therefore, it is appropriate and fitting for the State where he was raised and where he served so proudly as a peace officer to recognize his true commitment to the welfare and safety of others, to mark his untimely passing, to remember his family as they mourn their tragic loss, and to honor his memory;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during the appropriate hours on March 9, 2007, in recognition of the life and in mourning of the passing of Sergeant Tommaso Popolizio.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 7th day
of March, Two Thousand and Seven, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-First.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Kenneth H. Zimmerman