4-22-16 FATAL JUMPER

On Friday, April 22nd, 2016 at 2045hrs the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department received a general broadcast from the Ridgefield Park NJ Police Department reporting that a suicidal male was being sought by their agency.  P.O. David Moscaritolo #395 discovered a vehicle matching the description put out by Ridgefield Park on the US Route 9W parking area to the Woman’s Federation Monument Overpass.  This is located in the Alpine NJ Section directly west of the Woman’s Federation Monument.  Officers were dispatched to the area to begin searching on foot.  During the search P.O. Timothy Conboy #393 and Dlt. Roman Galloza #345 discovered a white male wearing a dark blue T-shirt sitting on the cliff’s edge approximately 1000ft south of Woman’s Federation Monument on an overlook area.

The person matched the description put out by Ridgefield Park.  Officers began a dialogue with the person who was responsive and provided some information leading up to his reason for being there.  As they continued talking with him for several moments and then without warning, jumped from the cliff.  The regional rappel response which includes Closter, Englewood Cliffs and East Bergen Rappel, was immediately notified and responded.

When rappel teams reached the victim, they found him severely injured, unconscious, and breathing.  During the removal process, his condition rapidly deteriorated and was in traumatic cardiac arrest by the time he reached the top.  CPR was administered however the victim was pronounced deceased upon arrival to the awaiting Medevac at State Line Lookout.

The victim was positively identified as Mr. Michael Shaffer, a 38 year old male from Bergenfield NJ.  At this time this investigation has been concluded as a suicide as the event was witnessed by police.