Off-duty cop killed in Ocean County, NJ car crash

LAKEWOOD — An off-duty Ocean County Sheriff's Office officer, who was a father with young children, died in a car crash early Monday morning.

Lakewood police spokesman Gregory Staffordsmith said Officer Brain Stockhoff, 41, of Jackson, struck a brick wall on Shorrock Road around 3:45 a.m. while heading south.

Stockhoff's car came to rest just south of Dumbarton Drive, the entrance to the community along the Brick/Lakewood border outside of Leisure Village East.

Stockhoff was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics.

Staffordsmith did not disclose the circumstances of the crash, which remained under investigation.

"We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Stockhoff family and his brothers and sisters at the Ocean County Sheriffs Department," Staffordsmith said in a statement.

Created the Mounted Unit

Stockhoff created the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Unit in 2014 which patrols parks throughout Ocean County. Stockhoff's horse was named Kianti who has been a part of the department since 2017.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office said Stackhoff was the class leader of his police academy class in 2007.

"We will miss his smile and his compassion for others. Please keep Officer Stockhoff and his family in your thoughts and prayers during the difficult days ahead. We will miss our brother Brian," the department wrote.

The Lakewood Scoop was first to report the crash.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ