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Message from the Sheriff
 Today, the Sheriff's Department operates with greatly improved fiscal responsibility, which includes budget reductions and innovative programs that have reduced the department's operating budget by nearly 20 million dollars in 2008. Additionally, we have done this while working vigorously toward crime reduction, an effort that, according to the Uniform Crime Reports, resulted in a drop of overall crime rates in Passaic County by nearly 30 percent. Additionally, more than 95 percent of our vehicle fleet, equipment and training has been funded through money siezed from drug dealers not taxpayer funds. This has created substantial savings to the citizens of this great county and provided the most state of the art equipment to the department.
Our department has initiated numerous community-based programs available to all the citizens of Passaic County. These programs have been designed to improve both the services we provide and the relationships we share with the community. Among these programs are the Reverse 911 Notification System, the Senior Citizen "Are You Ok Program," the Senior Identification and Crime Prevention Program, the Student "Reality-Check" Program, the Volunteers In Police program, the Explorer Program, the College Intern Program and the Crime Stoppers "Operation Safe-County" Program.
However, on the mind of most Americans are terrorism and the security of our homeland. I want to assure you that Passaic County has a coordinated and comprehensive plan in dealing with this threat. In facing this danger, Passaic County Prosecutor James F. Avigliano and I signed an agreement enabling the creation of the Passaic County Counter-Terrorism Task Force. This task force represents the first of its kind in the State of New Jersey wherein public safety officials in conjunction with our schools, transportation, public utilities and medical professionals have worked together to provide the most advanced homeland defense strategy for the County of Passaic.
The people of Passaic County elected a law enforcement professional with more than twenty-six years of experience as their Sheriff. Upon being elected, I fully understand that it is my obligation to step up to the challenges of our shared vision of a responsible Sheriff's Department characterized, above all, by the integrity of its leadership. I have dedicated my life to protecting you and your family and there is no quality of life if our homes and neighborhoods aren't safe and our children and seniors are left unprotected.
Furthermore, I pledge that our goals of excellence in service will not be compromised. In this, I assure you that the Passaic County Sheriff's Department will remain committed to ensuring safe county roads, schools, parks and neighborhoods through a department that puts the public first.
Sincerely yours,
Jerry Speziale
Sheriff |
