WPU Police Dispatcher Killed by Train

James Brown, a police dispatcher at William Paterson University, was killed Dec. 28, 2009, when his 2006 Jeep LCF Wagon was stuck on the NJ Transit train tracks, and was struck by an oncoming train. (Near Park Avenue and Rutherford Boulevard in Clifton)

William Paterson police chief, Michael Horvath, labeled Brown as a dedicated employee and father.

“You could count on him if anything critical was happening,’’ Horvath said. “He would be the person I would want answering the telephones and giving out radio calls to the police cars out on the street. He always had this nice, calm demeanor, even in stressful situations, that was a valuable asset to the police department.’’

Horvath said that flags are flying at half-staff at the university and a mourning bunting (a signature flag of mourning) has been put up at the campus police station. He went on to say that Brown was very well liked and that a chair would remain empty in the police communications room, where Brown worked, in honor of his memory.

Transit agency spokesperson Dan Stessel said none of the crew was injured and indicates  that they did nothing wrong.

The accident remains under investigation.

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