The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced they would pay off the mortgage for the family of Jersey City Police Detective Joseph Seals, who was tragically killed in the line of duty during a shootout on December 10, 2019. Detective Seals is survived by his wife and five children.
The shootout began in a cemetery and involved two suspects. After shooting Seals, the suspects continued their rampage at a Jewish market, where they fatally shot three more people before being killed in a final confrontation with law enforcement. Authorities believe the suspects had planned to inflict even greater harm.
Jersey City Director of Public Safety James Shea stated, “Everything about it is consistent, that they did not intend to harm only four people — that they had a larger plan. Based on what we know now, the amount of guns, the amount of ammunition, the fact that they had explosive devices — we would have to assume they planned to do a lot more damage than we allowed them to do.”
Just announced, #Tunnel2Towers is paying off the mortgage of fallen @JCPoliceDept Det. Joseph Seals. Seals leaves behind his wife & five children. Join our efforts with a donation of just $11 per month – help us take care of the families of the fallen: https://t.co/Tg6P1I8BtQ
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— Tunnel To Towers (@Tunnel2Towers) December 13, 2019
It is believed that Detective Seals was attempting to stop an incident involving illegal guns when the initial confrontation occurred. Seals was assigned to the Jersey City police Cease Fire Unit, which focuses on removing illegal guns from the streets.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop tweeted, “He [probably] is responsible for more guns being removed from the streets than any. He was an officer that loved JC [Jersey City], was involved in the city, and one that everyone knew regardless of their precinct.”
A funeral mass for Detective Seals was held on Tuesday in Jersey City. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s act of generosity has been widely applauded.
Badge 145 applauds this gracious act by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Nicely done!