HAMILTON -- Funeral services have been set for the Hamilton police officer who served in the township's schools and on the local Police Athletic League.
Officer Tom White
The funeral for Officer Tom White will be held Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Nottingham Ballroom, with a burial to follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Hamilton. A visitation will be held Monday from noon to 3 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the ballroom.
The 44-year-old father of two was an eight-year veteran of the force.
Authorities say he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head before his SUV struck the back of a commercial van on Nottingham Way Monday. He was off-duty at the time of his death.
White worked in the patrol bureau for seven years before spending the last year as a L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) officer in the district's Reynolds Middle School and co-director of the township's Police Athletic League Safety Town.
White's obituary says he was a devoted father, son, friend and coach. He is survived by his two children, Ryan and Kayla, and his mother and stepfather, Cathy and Brian Danka.
He lived in the area his entire life and was a graduate of Hamilton High School West. Before graduating from the Mercer County Police Academy in 2009, he worked in the Department of Corrections, CCL Label and the state Department of Transportation.
A fund has been set up to help White's children. Donations can be made to The Ryan T. and Kayla N. White Trust Account by visiting https://www.inmemoryof-memorial.org/thomas-white-jr.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.