A fallen police lieutenant and firefighter in East Brunswick was given final respects Saturday for his decades of service to the community.

Kenneth Skalla, 69, died on May 3 after a battle with cancer. He retired in 1998 as a lieutenant of the East Brunswick Police Department.

He was also an engineer and current president of the Brookview Volunteer Fire Company of East Brunswick for 13 years, as well as a Milltown crossing guard.

Skalla also worked for the Hopelawn Fire Department and was a former captain of their first aid squad.

He was also Navy veteran and served during the Vietnam War. He was married to his wife, Judy, for 45 years and had a daughter named Lisa.

The ceremony for Skalla started at the Brunswick Memorial Home in East Brunswick and was followed by the funeral session at the Community Arts Center.

It included a drive-thru visitation where people could pay respects to the family.

"It's unbelievable," said retired East Brunswick police officer, Ed Juba. "There are miles of cars of people waiting to come in to pay their respects."

Friends of the Skalla family say they were not able to see him during his last weeks of life because of restrictions on visitors at hospitals.

They say Skalla took pride in restoring an century-old fire engine.

Skalla was moved in that same antique fire truck hearse as  New Jersey state police conducted a fly-by to honor him and receive military honors.