Dear Editor: I read the column “Between the Lines” in the March 23rd edition of the Jersey City Reporter and must assist in the correction of several statements by reporter Al Sullivan. It is obvious that the sources from which this information originated misled this reporter with information that is completely incorrect. If I may, for the record provide the correct statements as follows:
First, Undersheriff L. Harvey Smith is and remains one of the three undersheriffs within the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office. Undersheriff Smith is responsible for the oversight of units within the office and shares the commands with the other two undersheriffs on duty.
Secondly, the membership of PBA Local 334 representing the Sheriff’s Officers and Detectives of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office recently voted to approve the proposed union contract for their members by an overwhelming vote of 138 in the affirmative to nine in the negative. The reporter stated that in regards to the contract affairs, there “appears to be division in the ranks.” Certainly the voting records and the majority of the membership voting in the affirmative does not support this statement. The effort in the contract was the result of the positive aspects of the County Administration under Executive Thomas DeGise and Sheriff Juan M. Perez with the PBA President Michael Hester and Vice President Dominick Bellero. Also, in regards to issue of positive attitudes in the Sheriff’s Office, I must refer to a letter to the editor of the Reporter (printed on the same date as Mr. Sullivan’s column.) This communication from Sheriff’s Office Michael Diaferia thanks the administration and union for the recent labor contract and firmly states that the morale in the Sheriff’s Office has made a distinct turnaround for the better since January 2008.
Third, in regards to the reference in the column in regards to any inquiry by the State Attorney General, I did confirm with a representative from the Hudson Reporter in January 2008 that in fact the state law enforcement agency did issue a subpoena for certain payroll and other records from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office. The reporter at that time possessed this information and requested comment. The only comment issued by the writer was confirming the reporter’s information that in fact a subpoena was issued for records and that any matters involved in the inquiry under review were of a scope prior to January 1, 2008 and the advent of the Perez Administration.
Thank you for the opportunity to assist in the correction of information that was provided to the Jersey City Reporter.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert B. Knapp
For the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office