STATEMENT ON STAR-LEDGER PHOTO BLUNDER

(Cedar Grove, NJ) -- The Essex section of today's Star-Ledger featured a piece about the endorsement of Rich Mastrangelo for Sheriff by the entire County PBA. Unfortunately, the Ledger posted the wrong picture above Mastrangelo's name. Instead of Rich in a police uniform, there was a bald man in a suit. Campaign spokesman Jack Grimes responded with the following statement:

"Obviously they got the wrong guy. Rich isn't bald. After this week's press coverage, the corrections rally, and now the PBA coming out against him, Armando Fontoura is the one pulling his hair out."

MAN DEAD ON COUNTY ROAD

County Sheriff Disbanding County Police
While County Properties Still Unprotected

(Newark, NJ) -- An East Orange man was found this week lying on South Orange Avenue with several gunshot wounds in his torso. He was found in the early morning just two blocks away from Vailsburg Park, a county park that should be under the protection of the County Sheriff. Detective Rich Mastrangelo, candidate for Essex Sheriff, today questioned Armando Fontoura's upcoming dissolution of the County Police, the very force charged with watching over the parks.

"It is a shame to lose the County Police. It is sad to see such a proud name and history come to an end. But more troubling than the loss of tradition is the loss of protection. Armando Fontoura claims the change will let him put more sheriff's officers in the parks. But the number of officers under his watch is not increasing--in fact it will decrease as former County patrolmen leave. His manpower problems remain, including the lack of enough officers for court security. Already Fontoura is using Bureau of Narcotics and Warrants officers for court duty to make up for the shortfall. He is more likely to pull the new 'Sheriff's Patrolmen' into the courts than to put more officers into the parks."