Tribute
/Detective Sergeant Thomas Trommelen
Detective Sergeant Trommelen was a kind human being, and he is the definition of what a police officer stands for. During his 30-year career with the Paterson Police Department, he worked in several divisions but spent about 22 years in narcotics. When he retired in 2016, he continued to do volunteer work by giving back to the community of Paterson as the vice president of the Paterson PBA Local 1 Charitable Organization. Patterson started building a community center four years ago which should be completed early in 2020 to continue his legacy in community outreach.
In 2012 Detective Sergeant Trommelen began the PBA Local 1 Annual Coat Drive. He started with eight Paterson public schools and a total of 80 coats were distributed. He was very passionate about the coat drive, seeing how much coats were needed. The best part for him was watching each child’s face light up as they smiled. Since then, the number has increased each year, now reaching 1000 coats. The brand-new coats are purchased with funds donated through payroll deductions from the Paterson police officers. The coats are distributed to the Paterson public schools, shelters, fire victims, the homeless and to churches. In addition, during the last three years on Christmas Eve, police officers, Detective Sergeant Trommelen and other volunteers drove around the neediest parts of the community looking for anyone in need of a coat.
To honor him, the coat drive is now named the Detective Sergeant Trommelen Annual Coat Drive. His legacy will live on through his philanthropy and his spiritual guidance.
