Howell Township woke up this week to the quiet weight of loss as news spread that Sean Acker, a veteran New Jersey State Police sergeant and devoted family man, had died after complications tied to a work-related injury. He was 48.
Acker, a Howell Township resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, according to his obituary released by Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home. His death followed months of medical struggles that began with the physical toll of a demanding career spent training and protecting others.
Born in Abington, Pennsylvania, Acker was raised in Howell, the town he would later serve with pride. His path to service started with the United States Air Force, where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant. After leaving the military, he joined the New Jersey State Police and built a law enforcement career that lasted more than 19 years as a member of the 145th State Police Class.
Inside the State Police Academy, Acker became a familiar and respected force. He served as the head physical training instructor, known for discipline, structure, and leading by example. Running five to ten miles a day was routine for him. Over time, that intensity caught up with his body, eventually requiring a double hip replacement.
As he prepared to return to duty, Acker began suffering complications in his right leg. Ten days after a residual surgical procedure, he went into cardiac arrest caused by a blood clot that led to a pulmonary embolism. The episode caused a traumatic brain injury, and he was later transferred to a specialized brain injury rehabilitation center in New Jersey.
Acting Superintendent Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz later confirmed that Acker died as a result of a medical condition connected to a work-related injury. The announcement sent waves of grief through the State Police and the wider law enforcement community.
Acker is survived by his wife, Retired Captain Lisa Acker, and their two children, Connor and Samantha. He also leaves behind his parents, Cyd and Mark Acker, his brothers, James and Grant, and a wide circle of relatives, friends, and colleagues who knew him as steady, tough, and deeply loyal.
In his obituary, Acker was remembered not just for his strength, but for how he carried it. Even as his health failed, he remained focused on his family and concerned for others. He faced his final years with courage and resolve, never letting his circumstances define him.
Visitation will be held Sunday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home in Freehold. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday, February 9, at the Church of St. Veronica in Howell. As flags lower and uniforms line up in quiet respect, Sean Acker is being remembered as a man who trained others to be strong, and proved that strength himself until the very end.
