BALLES FOR SHERIFF

2330 New Road Northfield, New Jersey 08225

WWW.SHERIFF08.COM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

News release: May 15, 2008

Media Contact: Frank Balles, (609-432-9407)

Sheriff Officer’s Can and Will Provide Police Services

ATLANTIC COUNTY. “ Under my leadership, when I’m elected, The Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department will provide law enforcement and public safety services to those communities that want them and at an affordable cost.”  stated Frank Balles, Republican candidate for Atlantic County Sheriff.

            Balles, a veteran police officer, said such services could be provided now, if the Sheriff Department’s assets were better managed. At least eight towns would benefit from that arrangement.

            “For the past 15 years, Sheriff McGettigan has been giving lip service to those towns that cannot afford their own police departments and must rely on the State Police for protection,” said the Pleasantville Police Captain in a prepared news release today. “There has been no effort to put Sheriff Officer’s where they are needed most.”

            Balles attended a meeting of officials from eight municipalities earlier this month in Estell Manor. There he heard Sheriff McGettigan talk about feasibility studies, new manpower and costly training to do what he should have been doing for the last 15 years.   The Sheriff is doing a lot of talking because he’s up for reelection this year and his actions are just delaying implementation of a plan to give Atlantic County towns more affordable and responsive law enforcement services.

            “The residents and businesses of those communities pay county taxes now and they should be getting the services they need now. Not just during the time Jim McGettigan is running for reelection.  It will cost less for these towns use the County Sheriff Department than the State Police,” Balles said. “The Sheriff could start the process now, if he really wanted to.”

             Due to threats from Governor Jon Corzine, many towns in Atlantic County are faced with paying high fees for State Police services, creating their own police departments or joining in with a neighboring community. Captain Balles said a Sheriff’s Department under his leadership would be the public safety agency for those towns that opted in to the service.

            “Sheriff Officer’s should be available to towns without regular police departments and to communities which need special law enforcement support,” Balles continued. “Whether for gang intervention, traffic safety enforcement, drug investigations, or plain old high visibility patrolling in high crime areas, Sheriff Officer’s can supplement any department that needs the help.”

            Sheriff McGettigan has been avoiding this critical issue for 15 years.

            “We shouldn’t have to wait for a political change to make a difference for these communities. We don’t have to wait for the increased State Police costs to be revealed in a new state budget in July,” Balles claimed. “With the right leadership these services can be provided today under fair and equitable interlocal service agreements between the county and the towns.”

            Balles said his election in November will at least give assurances to Buena Vista and Weymouth townships, Estell Manor, Folsom, Port Republic and Corbin City that they will have affordable, competent and dedicated public safety services by fully qualified law enforcement officers in early 2009.

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Paid for by BALLES FOR SHERIFF, Bob Polt, Treasurer