Fairfield Detective Competes in Season 3 of 'Top Shot'

One glance at Det. Paul Marinaccio’s credentials and it's clear he's pretty good with a firearm. The 31-year-old detective in the Fairfield Police Department has been an avid marksman for much of his life, learning from a childhood friend's father and ultimately gaining experience with nearly every gun used in World War I and World War II.

Recently, those years of training were put to the test as Marinaccio competed on the third season of the History Channel’s Top Shot, a show featuring some of the country’s toughest competitors displaying their proficiency with weapons, from primitive (think rocks) to the most sophisticated tactical firearms.

Season 3 of Top Shot premieres on the History Channel tonight at 10 p.m.

A 10-year veteran of the Fairfield PD, Marinaccio is now a firearms instructor for both the department and the Essex County Police Academy, making him as well equipped as anyone to haul in the $100,000 prize and the distinction of "Top Shot."

Marinaccio, who graduated from in West Caldwell, has been competing his entire life, spending 12 years wrestling before he started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and grappling, as well as competing as an amateur MMA fighter. He currently lives in Fairfield with his wife and their one-year-old son.

While Marinaccio spends a lot of his time preparing police officers in defensive tactics, firearms and physical training, his ideal of being a “perpetual learner” has led him to stay curious.

“When I go into a competition or I get to train with a group of guys who are really good, even if I’m technically better then they are, I always view myself as a student,” he said. “If I can learn something from them, I want to learn it.”

Couple Marinaccio’s determination to learn and succeed with his physical abilities, and the other 15 competitors on Top Shot surely have their work cut out for them.

“When God made me, he absolutely gave me an extra spoonful of competitive nature,” Marinaccio said in his Top Shot casting video.

That competitive nature will be on full display as Marinaccio faces some steep competition this season, going head-to-head with over a dozen of the country's most capable shooters. The group includes a national revolver champion, two homeland security agents and a former Navy SEAL, among others.

Despite the stiff level of competition, Marinaccio said he headed into the competition with confidence. After outlasting thousands of people who applied to be on the show, and spending a lifetime firing weapons and training, why shouldn't he?

“I knew that my physical ability, combined with my shooting ability and marksmanship training would really be a [good fit] for a show like Top Shot,” he said.

Marinaccio also explained while he was confident, his level of respect for his competitors never wavers, no matter what the scenario.

"I respect every competitor that I go up against," he explained. "It doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s fighting, whether it’s martial arts, whether it’s shooting, I always have a high level of respect for my opponent. I know what it took for them to get there, because I did the same thing."

Marinaccio has remained tight-lipped about his participation on the show, refusing to reveal any clues to his family, friends or co-workers. He’s even kept his wife out of the loop, so as to not ruin her experience watching the show.

One thing the detective was willing to reveal, though, was how the experience impacted him.

“I learned so much from such experienced competitors,” Marinaccio explained. “It was worth it no matter what [the outcome]."

Regardless of the final outcome, Fairfield Police Chief Charles Voelker predicts Marinaccio will do well and make his department proud.

“I know that with his enthusiasm, work ethic and ability Det. Marinaccio will have done well in this competition and admirably represented both the Fairfield Police Department and law enforcement,” Chief Voelker said Tuesday.