The New Jersey General Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that would rename the Deptford portion of Delsea Drive and Route 47 the Officer Robert J. Shisler Memorial Highway.
Shisler was a Deptford police officer who died on May 7 from injuries sustained during a pedestrian stop two months earlier. He was a four-year veteran of the force and a lifelong resident of the township.
The community rallied together in support of Shisler after he was shot, and his May 17 funeral at Rowan University’s Pfleeger Concert Hall in Deptford drew thousands near and far who paid their respects.
One of the primary sponsors of the renaming bill was state Assemblyman Bill Moen, who made his plea for support on the legislation at the statehouse in Trenton and saw it approved on June 30.
“On May 7, 2023 Officer Bobby Shisler tragically lost his life nearly two months after sustaining gunshot wounds during a pedestrian stop in Deptford Township,” Moen noted. “The 5th district and others visited the family, and at the viewing, we promised to commemorate his legacy. And today, we’re doing that with this small gesture.”
Other sponsors of the bill included state senators Fred H. Madden Jr. and Nilsa Cruz-Perez and assembly members Paul Moriarty and William Spearman.
The legislation was approved in the state senate on June 20 by a vote of 37-0, and passed the assembly 78-0 on the 30th, according to the New Jersey Legislature website. It now awaits the signature of Gov. Phil Murphy, who also attended Shisler’s funeral.
“We wanted to take a moment and formally thank our friend, Assemblyman Bill Moen, for introducing this bill in honor of our Bobby Shisler,” said a Deptford police Facebook post. “Tears were brought to our eyes when we first heard of the gesture, and we know Bobby’s memory will never fade.
“It’s been just over two months since we’ve lost our friend and colleague,” the post continued. “The pain still stings, but the outpouring of support has been what gets us through these difficult times. We love you all more than words can describe.”
