Article taken from Twitter feed Law Enforcement Today @LawEnforcementToday
by Patrick Sharkey
In Memoriam – Officer Daniel “JJ” Lomax
June 24, 2013 in Featured, Gone But Never Forgotten, Officer Down, Posts by Patrick Sharkey
Chief John Perechinsky of the Mayfield Pennsylvania Police Department has reported that
Officer Daniel “JJ” Lomax, 55, was accidentally electrocuted at the scene of a car crash in Salem
Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
Officer Lomax was off duty as a police officer but was volunteering as village firefighter and a
part-time officer for many small police departments in northeast Pennsylvania. When he came
across a car accident early Saturday at 3:10 a.m., he naturally stopped to assist. When he left his
vehicle he immediately came into contact with some downed power lines and was
electrocuted. He died at the scene.
Preliminary information reported on the crash Lomax stopped for was that a single vehicle that
had struck a power pole. The only remaining evidence of the tragedy that took Officer Lomax’s
life is a scorch mark on the asphalt pavement of Sawmill Road where he stepped out of his
vehicle. The Wayne County Coroner’s Office has ruled Lomax’s death accidental.
The news of his death spread through the communities where he worked as a part-time officer
and the fire departments where he had volunteered. Family, friends and colleagues said Lomax
died as he lived – helping others.
“He always put others first in his book,” said a colleague. “He was always looking out for
others.”
Lomax was Deputy Chief of the Factoryville Fire Department, and also volunteered in
Factoryville and for the Meredith Hose Company in Childs. He worked as a part-time police
officer for departments in Mayfield, Forest City and Great Bend.
Lomax came to Factoryville from the Philadelphia area as a teenager to join a foster family, his
adoptive brother Steve Brower said. He became a genuine part of the family, as generous to them
and others as they were to him. “My brother is a provider,” Brower said. “He gives to
everybody.”
After serving on area police departments for many years, Lomax left Northeastern Pennsylvania
about a decade ago and worked as a police officer in Maryland, colleagues said. He returned to
the area about two years ago.
“He was dependable. Everybody liked him. Everybody knew him,” Forest City Chief Paul Lukus
said. “He’d go out of his way to help you. If I needed him here in two hours, regardless of what
he had going on, he would be there.”
Lomax started working in Great Bend in May 2012 and quickly became active on the police
force and in the community, Chief Jon Record said, “He would give his shirt to anybody,”
Record said. “He died doing what he loved, and that was helping people.”
Mayfield Chief Joseph Perechinsky said Lomax was the “most dedicated officer I’ve ever seen.”
“He will be deeply missed by my department.”
Officer Daniel “JJ” Lomax, police officer with the Mayfield, Forest City, and Great Bend Police
Departments, and Deputy Chief of the Factoryville Fire Department, you are gone but your valor
for the people of northeastern Pennsylvania will never be forgotten. While starting life as a
foster child, which many use as an excuse, your outstanding contribution as a citizen, family
member, volunteer, and dedicated public servant stands as an example to everyone who knew
you. EOW: Saturday, June 22, 2013.
In addition, Officer Lomax worked for the Hurlock Police Department from July 2002
through October 2008, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Lomax worked within the Patrol
Division.
A viewing will be held Friday, June 28, 2013 from 5 PM to 8 PM at Litwin's Funeral Home
at the intersection of Capwell Ave. & Reynolds St. in Factoryville, PA.
The funeral service will be Saturday, June 29 beginning at 11 AM at Litwin's.