I got a call, from The Star-Ledger, on Friday January 14th, to go to Lakewood for an officer involved shooting. There was very little detail known as I was driving down, just that an officer had been shot, his condition was unknown, and they were looking for a suspect. This is the kind of assignment I have always dreaded, anything involving a death, but especially when it is a cop, everyone is on edge and you show up with a camera, the media, the vultures, paparazzi, etc. You have to handle this situation carefully and respectfully, it is news and the story needs to be told, but I never go in just snapping away.

By the time I got to the scene, or more precisely the neighborhood where it happened as the whole area was closed off, I had gotten word that the officer Lakewood Patrolman Christopher Matlosz, 27 years old, was shot and killed by an assailant who had approached Matlosz, who was parked in his patrol car in a residential neighborhood, and fired on him before he had time to react. 27 years old. There wasn’t much for me to do there as there was no access to the scene, nor would I have wanted access, but I had to be there in case something developed or they caught the suspect. When I got home and checked the web and saw a photo of Patrolman Matlosz, I realized that I had worked with him in the past, dealing with him on assignments. Over the next couple of days I talked with friends and officers from other towns who were friends of his. A real tragedy for many people.

I was fortunate a few days later to get a call from the Asbury Park Press to cover a candlelight vigil held in front of the Lakewood Police Department for Patrolman Matlosz. It was a way for me to be able to honor him in some way, to be there and to document it.

All images ©2011 Mike McLaughlin / All Rights Reserved www.mikemclaughlin.com

For more information and photos check out the Asbury Park Press and The Star-Ledger online. The Press has links to photos from the viewing and funeral on the Asbury Park Press Photographers facebook page.

I shot a great story this past Friday for the Asbury Park Press about Father and son triathlon team Dave and Blake Ferrell, of Middletown, New Jersey. Ferrell swims, bikes and runs with Blake, who has special needs, competing in marathons and triathlons around the area. Dave pulls Blake in a boat while he swims, pushes his wheelchair during the run, and attaches a special hitch between his bike and Blake’s chair, to ride together. I had the opportunity and fortune to photograph them practicing with the Sandy Hookers club in the Navesink River off Rumson. For the full article, visit the Asbury Park Press.

Dave and Blake Ferrell arrive early at Victory Park in Rumson. Dave has to get Blake’s boat inflated and get Blake ready for the swim before the rest of their club members arrive.

Dave puts sunscreen on Blake before going for their swim in the Navesink.

Dave and his son Luke, 7, launch Blake in his boat for their practice swim.

With Blake in his boat, Dave attaches a waist belt to tow the boat behind him for the swim.

Dave and Blake take off for their practice swim.

Dave pulls Blake in after their practice swim.

All Photos ©2010 Mike McLaughlin / All Rights Reserved www.mikemclaughlin.com

Special thanks to Sean Brady for loaning me his water housing for this job!

I got to shoot a couple of Memorial Day events for the Asbury Park Press over the weekend, and thought I’d share some of the photos. The 1st was on Sunday, the 15th Annual Berkeley Shores boat parade and blessing, and a memorial service in the middle of Barnegat Bay. I jumped on the boat with a retired Army Chaplain and a Pastor to photograph the blessings, then I had them call over a Coast Guard boat to take me closer to the memorial service where they veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq to lay a wreath and roses in the bay.

The last photo is from the Lacey Township Memorial Day Parade on Monday. It is of Korean War veteran Herman Gutierrez as he waves to the parade participants as they go by. Herman, who grew up in Colombia, served in Korea with the Colombian Army in 1955. He has since become an American Citizen.

All Photos ©2010 Mike McLaughlin/All Rights Reserved. www.mikemclaughlin.com