Memorial Service Set For Somerset County Sheriff's Officer

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday for Somerset County Sheriff's Officer Ahmed Mackey, who suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty.

The service will be held at the historic courthouse on East Main Street in Somerville at 3 p.m., according to the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

Face coverings/masks and other social distancing precautions will be required.

Somerset County Sheriff's Officer Mackey, 50, a Piscataway resident was known for his big smile and personality.

"He was a great officer, he was definitely very well-liked by the other officers in the community," said Russo. "He was an all-around good guy. He dfinitely lit up a room when he walked in. He will be sorely missed."

Mackey suffered a heart attack just before noon on Nov. 22 while at work.

Mackey was in the parking garage when he lost his breath and called other officers for help, said Russo.

"When the officers got to him he already ended up collapsing and they began CPR and worked on him for away before he was brought to an area hospital and pronounced dead," said Russo.

Mackey leaves behind his daughter Ary. A fundraising page has been set up to start a college tuition fund for Ary, who was Ahmed's "word", according to the GoFundMe page. To donate click here.

Mackey was a 20-year veteran of the Somerset County Sheriff's Office. He had served as a school resource officer at Somerset County Vocational and Technical School for many years where he also coached boys basketball. For many years he also ran a toy drive that delivered toys on Christmas Day.

Mackey began his law enforcement career in 1993 as a provisional sheriff’s officer with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and in August 1994 graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy.

He served seven years with Conrail and Norfolk Southern Railway Police before joining the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in January 2001, where he was selected a year later to be a school resource officer. He was also certified as a Gang Resistance Education and Training Officer.

Mackey was assigned to the office's new Public Relations Unit, and he also served as president of the state Juvenile Justice Association and a member of the Hate Crime Bias Unit.

Any law enforcement agencies who want to participate or help with the service are asked to report to the area beside the Somerset County Courthouse at 2 p.m.

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