A tragic incident unfolded in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Friday morning when a sheriff’s officer fell to his death from a ninth-floor window. The officer, identified as Justin Rivera, was on duty at the Hudson County Administrative Building on Newark Avenue when the incident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m.
First responders discovered the 29-year-old officer outside the building on Central Avenue. He was quickly transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead approximately half an hour later, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
Officer Rivera’s death was deemed accidental, although the exact circumstances leading to his fatal fall remain unclear. A witness at the scene reported hearing the sound of breaking glass before seeing Rivera fall. The witness, Steve Roosen, recounted seeing officers attempt CPR on Rivera multiple times before ceasing their efforts.
Roosen also observed two individuals peering out of the shattered window down to the street following the incident. The official cause of death is pending as authorities await results from the medical examiner’s office.
The Hudson County Administrative Building was closed to the public at the time due to an unrelated power outage. Following the incident, tributes began pouring in for Rivera, who was remembered by local officials as an exceptional officer and a remarkable young man.
Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari expressed his grief over the loss of Rivera, stating that the young officer embodied the highest ideals of integrity, compassion, and professionalism. The Hudson County Sheriff’s Superior Fraternal Order of Police also paid tribute to Rivera, praising his dedication to public service and his unwavering commitment to the community.
Sheriff’s Officer Dies in Tragic Fall from Ninth-Floor Window
Rivera, a father, resided in Bayonne, New Jersey, where he coached boxing at his family’s martial arts studio. Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis expressed his condolences, referring to Rivera’s death as a “tragic loss” for the city.