Colonel Justin J. Dintino,
On January 24, 2020, of Washington Twp. The longest surviving State Police Superintendent dies at the age of 91.

Beloved husband of Doris E. (nee Carey). Devoted father of Justin, Jr., Robert (Anne Marie), Dennis (Randolph Jordan), Joseph (Lamberto), and Eileen Covelli (the late Philip). Dear son of the late Joseph and Susie (nee DeStephano) Dintino. Loving grandfather of 6. Proud great-grandfather of 10.

Justin J. Dintino, the former head of the New Jersey State Police and a nationally-recognized law enforcement reformer died on January 24, 2020, after a brief illness.

Appointed by former Governor James Florio to lead the State Police in 1989, Dintino was credited with addressing what was then systemic racial profiling that had engulfed the ranks of the State Police. Upon his appointment, Dintino vowed that “he would rather not have another ounce of drugs seized than see another trooper go to jail for an illegal search or civil rights violation.” He instituted policies and procedures that identified troopers who were consistently being challenged on their arrests, demanding that their supervisors be held accountable.

Co-author of Police Intelligence in Crime Control (1983), Dintino argued, “the best protection society has against a repressive intelligence system is to ensure that those selected to fulfill this task are well-trained, competent, socially-sensitive, and understanding of the delicate balance they must maintain in the social order.” For his many contributions to the field of police intelligence through his lectures and writings, Dintino was appropriately recognized in 1983 by the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts.

Selected by the late President Ronald Reagan to serve on the 1983 Commission on Organized Crime, Dintino often found himself in policy disagreements with the renowned federal judge, Irving Kaufman who headed the commission. “ Poor management of time, money and staff has resulted in the commission’s leaving important issues unexamined…suggesting the panel should have reviewed the effectiveness of federal and state efforts to combat organized crime,” Dintino and eight other commissioners boldly concluded.

In a state that was riddled with political corruption and organized crime, Dintino was considered a model trooper who defied conventional political protocols. According to former NJ Criminal Justice Director Edwin Stier, “Dintino’s record of resistance to corruption, determination to enforce the law against criminal enterprises and his resourcefulness, resulted in his being chosen as part of a cadre of detectives who was tasked with a mandate to investigate corrupt political alliances with organized crime syndicates that had dominated state and local politics, regardless of who was involved.”

Besides his career in the State Police, Dintino served for six years as the General Chairman of the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, an international organization, headquartered in Sacramento, California. Upon his retirement from the State Police, Dintino was appointed a Commissioner with the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation.

Dintino was born on October 30, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late Joseph and Susie Dintino (DeStephano). He is survived by his wife Doris (Carey); his five children, Justin Jr., Robert and his partner, Anne Marie, Dennis and his husband Randolph Jordan, Eileen (Covelli) and her late husband Philip, and Joseph and his husband Lamberto; grandchild, Justin Covelli and his wife Caroline and their children, Ronan and Rhys; grandchild Philip Covelli and his wife Rebekah, and their children, Hailey, Luke, Colson and Elliana;  grandchild Gemma Herman and husband Anthony Herman, and their child Finn; grandchild, Gioia Covelli and partner Ergys Rakaj, and their children, Camila, Matteo, and Marisa; grandchild Alex Dintino; and grandchild Julia Dintino. Brother Joseph Dintino. Sisters Irene Surran, Rosemarie Gartner (deceased) and Florence Kovacs (AKA Holtz) deceased.

In one of the last State Police events Dintino participated in on October 30, 2019, the New Jersey State Police established the Col. Justin J. Dintino Repository on Organized Crime and Literature at State Police Headquarters in West Trenton, New Jersey. Recognized for his investigative skills and acumen in the “war against organized crime,” Col. Patrick Callahan, who presided over the dedication, commented, “ Colonel Dintino’s hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence was the driving force behind the takedown of several organized crime syndicates. His informant development skills were renowned.”

In the words of Frederick T. Martens, the former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission, who was mentored by Dintino in the State Police, “Dintino was the crème-de la-crème of law enforcement executives, His contributions to the State of New Jersey and the intelligence community were legendary, courageous, and prescient . He was one of a kind!”

Family and friends are invited to attend his viewing Saturday 8:15-10:45 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Mass of Christian Burial 11:30 AM at the Church of the Holy Family, Washington Twp. Interment, St. Joseph Cemetery, Chews Landing.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Justin’s memory may be made to Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, 125 County House Rd., P.O Box 475 Blackwood, NJ 08012.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”