N.J. officer dies after fall from 9th-story window

By Matthew Enuco
nj.com

HUDSON COUNTY, N.J. — A Hudson County sheriff’s officer died Friday morning after falling from a ninth-story window at the Hudson County Administrative Building, authorities said.

Authorities said it appears Justin Rivera, 29, accidentally fell from the window.

Authorities responded to the administrative building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City just before 9:30 a.m. and found Rivera on the exterior of the building on Central Avenue, officials with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Rivera was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at about 10 a.m., according to officials.

Rivera was on duty at the time of the fall, but the building was closed to the public due to an unrelated power outage, officials said.

“Today is one of the saddest and most horrific days that the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has ever experienced,” Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari said in a statement Friday. “We lost an excellent officer today and an outstanding young man. Officer Justin Rivera was just 29 years old and he had his whole life ahead of him.”

Schillari said he spent several hours with Rivera’s family at the hospital and that the Sheriff’s Office is doing everything they can to support the family.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the family of the deputy who died today,” the New Jersey State PBA said in a social media post Friday.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
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