2019 Fall Cocktail Reception

Honoring Col. Rick Fuentes, Retired NJ State Police Superintendent

Joseph Richard (Rick) Fuentes joined the New Jersey State Police in 1978 and rose through the ranks from a general road-duty trooper to overseeing the intelligence section before being named superintendent in 2003. His career at the New Jersey State Police spanned 39 years. During his time with the New Jersey State Police, Col. Fuentes provided local, state, and national leadership to encourage and sponsor secure critical information sharing to improve public safety, law enforcement, and homeland security.

As superintendent, Fuentes commanded an enlisted and civilian work force of more than 4,000 men and women tasked with a broad range of patrol, investigative, homeland security, administrative, forensic laboratory, and emergency management responsibilities.

Col. Fuentes retired November 2017 and most recently received the 2019 Robert P. Shumate National Public Safety and Justice Contributor to Excellence Award.