NEW TOP-COP PICK SEEMS PROMISING

Former state Police Superintendent Joseph Santiago clearly was a poor
choice to head the state's elite law-enforcement unit. A roar of protest
erupted when Gov. James E. McGreevey announced his appointment. No such
uproar followed Saturday's announcement that Capt. Joseph E. "Rick"
Fuentes, who has been with the State Police for 25 years, would be the new
superintendent, pending state Senate confirmation.

A key factor in the welcoming reception is the new nominee's upward journey
through the State Police ranks, especially since a major objection cited by
those who opposed Santiago was the fact that he was an outsider.

Fuentes has master's and doctorate degrees in criminal justice and plenty
of street credibility from his work in the anti-gang unit. That's a
combination that would serve any State Police leader well.

Fuentes vowed to targeting organized crime, in contrast to Santiago, who
was dogged by unsubstantiated rumors of mob ties.

Fuentes also said he would zero in on international drug traffickers, an
important priority in a state where numerous drug arrests have demonstrated
Newark Airport and the New Jersey Turnpike are hot spots in the transit
route for illegal narcotics.

At the same time, Fuentes has what McGreevey termed a "deep commitment to
ensuring equal application of the law, diversity in the command staff and
service to the public."

That bodes well for the aggressive enforcement that's needed for drug
trafficking, as well as the determination to get the job done without using
the deplorable racial-profiling tactics for which the 3,000-person state
law-enforcement agency has been criticized in the past and for which the
federal government is still monitoring the agency.

Fuentes also served in the intelligence bureau of the State Police, gaining
experience that will be invaluable considering the agency's role in
anti-terrorism efforts. That role will be crucial because New Jersey's
numerous military bases, nuclear plants, major ports, population density
and proximity to New York City make it a tempting target for those who hate
America.

The State Troopers Fraternal Association expressed its pleasure with the
selection, so Fuentes has support from within the ranks. Barring a stream
of negative revelations similar to those that followed Santiago's
nomination, state Senate confirmation should come swiftly. Then the State
Police can move ahead focused on enforcement rather than turmoil at the top.