HUDSON COUNTY — Sources said Friday that Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez has fired Undersheriff Frank Schillari, who is expected to run against him in the June 6 Democratic primary election.
In recent months, several Hudson County political heavyweights have switched their allegiance from incumbent Perez to Schillari, for reasons unspecified.
Supporters of Perez have complained about the fact that Schillari was heard talking to a reputed mobster on an FBI tape several years ago, although no more facts were given in newspaper stories about the incident. Schillari has not commented on it. But his spokesman has said that the tape recording should not be an issue in the campaign, as it was “thoroughly reviewed by law enforcement” and no wrongdoing was found.
After Friday’s firing, former Undersheriff Schillari’s spokesman responded with a statement.
The statement read: “Today, a highly regarded law enforcement professional was treated like a criminal by Sheriff Juan Perez. Hudson County Undersheriff Frank Schillari was fired today. He was given no legal notice. Sheriff Perez’s brother in law came into his office at 10:30 this morning with an officer from Internal Affairs and gave him a letter telling him he was being terminated immediately. He was told that there is no reason for his termination, no justification. No budget concerns. No performance issues. They demanded that he leave the premises immediately and watched while he packed his personal items. This was a cowardly and foolish act by Sheriff Perez. It is illegal to fire someone for political reasons. Schillari’s firing is clearly a political retaliation and a violation of his civil rights. Sheriff Perez should personally be held accountable, not the taxpayers of Hudson County.”