where he served as an Assistant Senior Supervisory Agent and was responsible for investigating numerous violations of Federal Criminal Statutes.
Only six months into his new position, Barnes led the Edison Police Department as it engaged in a two-day hostage standoff with John Arias, a 22-year-old Connecticut man.
The situation concluded one-day later at 7 p.m. when Barnes and his Deputy Chief, Anthony Calomoneri, were determined to "lay it on the line and get tough."
He authored several major pieces of legislation, including a landmark bill that was signed into law in 2004 creating the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing.
This research outlet is composed of key representatives of the criminal justice system, who serve without compensation, and is charged with promoting sound sentencing policy founded on the basic principles of public safety, proportionality and fairness.
After conducting empirically-based research, this deliberative body is charged with making recommendations to the Legislature on appropriate amendments to the State's sentencing code.
To honor the death of New Brunswick Deputy Fire Chief Jimmy D'heron, who was killed in the line of duty on September 3, 2004, Barnes also introduced a bill that was signed into law in 2006, which established certain hiring preferences for the children of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Barnes also sponsored legislation that created stricter regulation of unlicensed, unsupervised, and untrained bounty hunters; created a law aimed at keeping common bomb-making materials away from terrorists; and given state and local law enforcement officers more tools to investigate online sex crimes against children.
Before resigning his seat, the Assemblyman introduced a controversial piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 2877, which would have reduced drug-free school and public property zones from 1,000 to 200 feet.
This bill was introduced in response to a report issued by a blue-ribbon panel, the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing, which strongly argued that the current drug-free school zone laws do not serve as the deterrent that they were purported to be.
While this legislation remains the subject of some debate, it has received praise from the editorial page of The Star-Ledger, New Jersey's largest newspaper.
He had four children including Peter III who succeeded Barnes in the Assembly, John Patrick a former Hunterdon County, New Jersey prosecutor, Sheila, and Kelly.