Armando B. Fontoura
Essex County Sheriff

In 2004, Sheriff Armando B. Fountoura was appointed to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Board of Commissioners. Fountoura is responsible for operating the largest and most active Sheriff's Department in New Jersey. The agency serves the people of Essex County and the state's busiest Superior Court vicinage.

A career law enforcement officer, Fountoura was appointed Sheriff in 1990, elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2003. He is the longest tenured Sheriff in Essex County history.

Throughout his distinguished law enforcement career Sheriff Fountoura has been the recipient of many professional and civic awards. These honors include his selection by NBC as the metropolitan area's "Good Cop", UNICO's "Man of the Year", the Newark Jaycees "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year", the Boy Scouts "Good Scout" award and The Star-Ledger's "Jerseyan of the Year".

Along with his law enforcement background, Fountoura previously worked as a teacher in the Newark public school system after earning his bachelor's degree in education at Newark State Teacher's College, now Kean College.

A resident of Fairfield, Sheriff Fountoura and his wife, Mary, are the proud parents of three daughters and have been further blesses with three grandchildren.