Off-Duty New Jersey Officer Killed in Traffic Collision

An off-duty Hillside, NJ, police officer was killed and another person seriously injured early Monday when an SUV collided with a tractor-trailer truck, according to NJ.com .

Officer Giovanni Esposito was hired by the Hillside Police Department in November 2017 after graduating at the top of his class from the Essex County Police Academy, according to Chief Vincent Ricciardi.

Chief Ricciardi said in a statement on Facebook , "Officer Esposito loved his job and was a warm and friendly person who was well-liked by all who knew him. Officer Esposito loved his job and was a warm and friendly person who was well-liked by all who knew him."

The department said further, "He prided himself on serving the community of Hillside with diligence and compassion. His death is a profound loss to our department and we will miss him terribly. We wish his family solace and comfort during this extremely difficult time."