Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Rick Venditte was shot and killed while checking on a rental property he owned in his patrol district at 224-226 Clinton Street.
During a short break on his shift, he went to check on a tenant he had twice tried to evict. As he was standing in the apartment, the tenant ambushed him, shooting him twice with a shotgun. Sergeant Venditte, who was in his police uniform, did not have time to draw his weapon. The suspect then committed suicide.
Sergeant Venditte had not marked out at the location and after he failed to check in, a search was undertaken. His body was found after several hours.
Sergeant Venditte had served with the Paterson Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, his young daughter, and a young son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-1EC3900E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Venditte gave the Paterson Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paterson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Venditte.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Enrico Venditte is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Paterson Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Enrico Venditte's cause is highlighted.
How Enrico Venditte Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Enrico Venditte is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Enrico Venditte was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Paterson Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
