perth-amboy-officer-sbs.jpg
At left, Mikayla Raji and her mother, Mimi Jiminez-Raji. At right, Mikayla's father, Perth Amboy Police Officer Thomas Raji, who was killed in the line of duty nearly 9 years ago (Jamesburg police)
( )
JAMESBURG-- When Patrolman Joseph Quinn ducked into Helmetta's Villa Borghese Friday to pick up a bite, he was treated to a pleasant surprise: someone insisted on paying for his meal.
Quinn soon learned his benefactor was not just a typical grateful citizen, but a young girl with her own special tie to law enforcement.
Mikayla Raji, 8, was dining with her mother Mimi Jiminez-Raji when Quinn walked in. Mikayla decided to ask her mother if they could grab Quinn's check, and the two had a chance to chat before Quinn left.
Then, thanks to what the Jamesburg department described as "diligent police work," they learned that Mikayla is the daughter of Thomas Raji, a Perth Amboy police officer killed by a drunk driver in August 2008. He was the first police officer in Perth Amboy history to be killed in the line of duty.
Mikayla never met him. Jiminez-Raji, who was also a police officer at the time, was just a few months pregnant with Mikayla when Thomas Raji lost his life.
In the last few days, the Jamesburg department has started a GoFundMe campaign to finance her education.
"To Mimi", the department wrote on its Facebook page, "On behalf of all the members of the Jamesburg Police Department, we want to thank you for Tommy's service as well as yours. Mikayla is a great kid, and you should be very proud of her."
The department also had something to say to Mikayla too.
"Thank you for buying Ptl. Quinn's dinner. You have an OPEN invitation to stop by Headquarters whenever you want, and this time dinner is on us! Your dad would be so proud of the person you are. If you ever need us for anything, you can guarantee we will be there for you."
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.