Matthew Kickey

Matthew began his career in the fire service in 1998 as a volunteer firefighter with the Secaucus Fire Department in which he served 7 years. Matthew was a firefighter, until 2005, assigned to Engine 2 / Rescue 1, which also included the responsibility of assisting victims involved in motor vehicle collisions as well as victims needing life saving measures. In 2002, Matthew began a career at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office holding a civilian position as a data processing technician and a base operator. As a base operator Matthew assisted all the field units with criminal investigations including Narcotics, Homicide, and Special Victims Unit.

In 2005, Matthew was hired as a Detective within the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and attended the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Basic Course for Investigator Police Academy. After graduating the NJ DCJ police academy, Matthew was assigned to the Juvenile Unit. In 2007, Matthew was transferred to the Hudson County/Bergen County/New Jersey State Police/DEA Money Laundering Task Force. During this time, Matthew participated in drug interdiction, high level narcotics investigations, and money laundering investigations throughout New Jersey and New York. In 2011, Matthew was transferred to the Hudson County Narcotics Task Force taking part in local level narcotics investigations and participated in narcotics investigations in an undercover capacity.

In 2012, Matthew was transferred to the Homicide Unit being assigned as a Crime Scene Investigator. During that time Matthew successfully completed the 240-hour New Jersey State Police Crime Scene Investigation course as well as the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Basic Course for Arson Investigators. Matthew’s responsibilities included processing crime scenes and evidence collection for the Homicide Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, Narcotics, Internal Affairs, as well as assist local police departments with crime scene investigations. In 2017, Matthew assisted with the creation of the HCPO Crime Scene Unit and in 2018, the Regional Arson Task Force. The Regional Arson Task Force was a multi-agency task force consisting of local police officers, fire officials, and arson investigators and were responsible for overseeing all major fire investigations and assist local departments when needed.

In 2019, Matthew was promoted to the rank of Sergeant supervising the Crime Scene Unit and the Regional Arson Task Force until his retirement in 2022. During his time with the HCPO Crime Scene Unit, Matthew has processed hundreds of crime scenes and has testified in New Jersey Superior Court as well as Federal Court for the US Attorney’s Office.

In 2020, Matthew became a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators and a certified Fire Investigation Technician with the International Association of Arson Investigators. In 2021, Matthew became a certified Evidence Collection Technician with the International Association of Arson Investigators and in 2022, became a certified Fire Investigator with the New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety.

Education & Certification

M.A., Master of Criminal Justice , Boston University
B.A., B.A. Fire and Emergency Services , John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Certified Evidence Technician (IAAI-ECT)
Fire Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT)
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (NAFI – CFEI)
Private Investigator/Fire, State of FL, NY
OSHA 10

SPECIAL TRAINING
NJ Division of Criminal Justice Basic Course for Investigators
NJ Division of Criminal Justice Basic Course for Arson Investigators
New Jersey State Police Crime Scene Investigation
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Firefighter 1
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Fire Investigator

Associations

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)