Five years later and motorcycle Officer John Samra is still the sole Clifton police officer to be killed in the line of duty. Remembered many times since his death through community events, the City did so again on Sunday, Oct. 26, as police officers and residents honored him by participating in a 5K Run/Walk to help earn money for the John Samra Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Five years ago in November, Samra pulled over a van for what witnesses testify as running a red light. Driver Luis Hernandez, a recent parolee who had been in and out of prison since the mid-80s, was operating his girlfriend’s van without a license.

Witnesses report Hernandez took off in the vehicle and Samra pursued him on his motorcycle. Samra was blindsided by the speeding van as he moved to intercept at the corner of Maple Place and Washington Avenue.

With the officer down and the back end of the van wrapped around a tree, Hernandez fled the accident on foot.Two Clifton locals who witnessed the incident gave chase and quickly apprehended the suspect until authorities arrived.

According to the police report, "Officer Samra was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he died [shortly after] from his injuries."

A couple of days after the incident, family, friends, fellow officers and kindhearted residents came to pay their respects by lighting candles, laying flowers and leaving poems and prayers on the infamous corner.

Exactly one year and one day after the crash, Samra was remembered twice more. Outside of Clifton City Hall, a plaque was erected in dedication of the fallen officer. Then, over at the Passaic County Police Academy, another ceremony was held. It concluded with the unveiling of Samra’s name etched in stone below 11 other Passaic County police officers killed in the line of duty.

In June 2005, Samra was acknowledged again when the "John Samra Park Without Boundaries" opened. The park is designed to accommodate handicapped children.

In keeping his spirit alive, this Sunday the Clifton P.B.A. Local #36 sponsored the first annual 5K Run/Walk to help raise money for the John Samra Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund consists of three scholarships each worth $1,000. They are given to a Clifton High School student and two children who have a parent or parents on the police force.

"Officer Samra had no children. We want to keep his memory alive [by helping other] children," said detective John Kavakich, one of the event planners.

To join, volunteers registered via a form on the Clifton P.B.A. Local #36 Web site www.cliftonpba36.com. A required donation of $25 was raised to $35 from Oct. 1 through the morning of the event.

Some who could not participate in the walk still helped out the cause. When initially asked whether the family of Officer Samra would be participating, Kavakich said, "They have sent in donations, but we’re not sure whether they will actually be running. But they are very happy the event is in his name."

At 8 a.m., people began lining up in front of Clifton City Hall where the Run/Walk would begin. Stragglers who wished to participate would be given one last chance to register through 9:30 a.m., when the starting gun was fired.

As of Oct. 23, "About 160 people have registered. We hope to break 200," said Kavakich. That Sunday they met their mark and surpassed it by about 25, helping to raise a lot of money – all of which went entirely toward the scholarship fund.

In further honoring Officer Samra, the course had participants passing the fateful corner of Maple Place and Washington Avenue

"It’s a solemn place for us, but we are going to remember what he sacrificed," said Kavakich.

Virtually every member of the police force participated in some way or another. Many officers ran the course, while others took on traffic control duties to make sure all entrants were safe.

Jim Flanagan was one of the non-participating police officers who volunteered his time elsewhere. "The corner was the mid-point of the race. We set up a table in the middle of the street with half-cups of water for the runners."

Mayor James Anzaldi came to show his support as well. "John Samra is a Clifton hero. It is wonderful that they are remembering him this way. [His death] was probably the saddest day in Clifton history."

Police officers from neighboring towns also came to participate and pay respects, as well as members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

And in the end, Samra’s family was happy to be there too. His brother ran and his father was given a tour of the course via police Jeep.

A couple of days after the event, Kavakich is still beaming, "[The event was] beyond our expectations. It was a beautiful day." On the subject of next year, he says, "We hope to partner with the Clifton Roadrunners Club. They can use us as a sanctioned event. If the state certifies the 5K, the turnout will be bigger and better. We can also hand out more scholarships to children in different schools.

"The P.B.A. really appreciates Clifton’s support."