Outgoing Sheriff Fontoura still giving back to the community

Armando Fontoura may be stepping down after 34 years as Essex County Sheriff, but he’s still busy giving back to the community.

Fontoura, 80, showed that on Monday when he and other police officers visited 44 different locations across the city to distribute 515 turkeys as part of the Sheriff’s Department’s annual Thanksgiving food drive.

They also gave out about 55 cases of bulk food items to various churches and soup kitchens, plus 10 individual families.

Fontoura said that he and the officers take part in the annual food giveaway because they want to show they care.

“This is a labor of love,” he said. “All of our folks, they participate, they have bake sales that they put together to raise some money to buy the bulk food. Some of our friends in the business world help us out … some of these officers, they get so worked up on this, the opportunity to give back to the community. To show the community that we listen, that we’re a part of you. We are going to do everything we can to make sure those of us who are less fortunate than we are, at least they have something to lean on.”

Fontoura began his career with the Newark Police Department in 1967. He held supervisory positions in the patrol division and the detective bureau, and was first appointed sheriff in 1990. He was elected in 1991 and won 10 consecutive terms since.

Undersheriff Amir Jones, who will take over in January, said that while Fontoura may be retiring, he will still be involved in such drives going forward. Fontoura will, for instance, also be involved in the department’s annual toy giveaway in December.

“This is a bittersweet moment because this is Sheriff Fontoura’s last Thanksgiving drive here with us,” Jones said. “He started this 34 years ago. We’re going to continue to do this in the future. And I’ll be reaching out to him, even though he won’t be the sheriff, he’ll definitely be participating. We’ll get a contribution from the sheriff as well for our next one and in the future.”

Fontoura said he will try to show up to as many drives as he can.

“It’s a little melancholy,” Fontoura said. “I think that, you know, I’m perfectly fine with leaving, I’m looking forward to leaving. But this is something that’s very close to our hearts and, like Sheriff Jones indicates, I’ll probably be showing up. If he invites me, I’ll show up here for the next one, for the ones after that, as long as I’m around.”

Joe Carter, the Pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church who has been doing the food drive with the sheriff’s office since it began, said he appreciated the relationship he and Fontoura have developed and the benefits it’s given the community. This year they will give out about 1,500 baskets of food.

“I remember when he first took over,” Carter said. “He promised me from that day that we would form a relationship, and he’s gone above and beyond that. And so it’s been a blessing to see this and what we’re doing here.”

While Carter has been the church’s pastor for 24 years, he said he still feels the impact of the previous pastor, Charles Thomas, and thinks the new sheriff will face a similar challenge.

“I’m looking forward to a growing relationship with our new sheriff, but I mean there’s only one Fontoura and I know what that’s like,” Carter said. “My predecessor was here 33 years, and I’m still trying to win over his crowd and [Jones] is going to have the same challenge winning over (Fontoura’s) crowd.”

Fontoura added that Carter has been great, too. “There’s only one Pastor Carter. The problem is there’s not enough of him to go around because everybody wants a piece of him. The relationship has been so easy to maintain. He makes everybody feel comfortable around here, and we know the work he does is essential for us.”

Jones said he’ll continue the Thanksgiving food drive and try to expand it.

“You see what’s going on around the country,” he said of the tradition Fontoura started. “The need is higher now. Groceries are very expensive now. Eggs, milk, things like that. Everything’s expensive now. So, right now, the need is going to be more. We’re going to increase it if we can. If we can do 40, we can do 50 stops, we’ll do it. These officers are the best officers in the state of New Jersey. They’re willing to contribute and help out as much as they can.”