By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
Local officials were surprised and disappointed this week to learn that former Middlesex County Sheriff and county Democratic Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo is facing corruption charges.
”If he is guilty, I am disappointed,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said Tuesday night. “It is a reflection on elected and appointed officials in politics today.”
Mr. Spicuzzo, 65, of Helmetta, surrendered to state police in Hamilton Monday and now faces charges of official misconduct and bribery, according to a press release from state Attorney General Paula T. Dow’s office Monday.
According to the release, the former sheriff was arrested for allegedly demanding bribes of up to $25,000 from people to gain employment or a promotion in the sheriff’s office.
Both charges are second-degree offenses, and each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, according to the release.
”If proven true, the allegations against Mr. Spicuzzo outline a stunning violation of the public trust,” state Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-14, said Tuesday. “We must have zero tolerance for any public official who would abuse his or her office for personal gain.”
Mr. Spicuzzo recently retired as sheriff after serving 10 terms in the position and resigned his position as county Democratic Party chairman Tuesday, according to a statement from the county organization.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie also called on Mr. Spicuzzo on Tuesday to resign from his position as a commissioner on the New Jersey Sporting Exhibition Authority where Mr. Spicuzzo has served his appointment by former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
”Given the seriousness of the criminal charges, your continued participation in NJSEA affairs would be disruptive to the effective and orderly operation of the NJSEA and could lead the public to question the integrity of the actions of the NJSEA,” Gov. Christie said in a letter to Mr. Spicuzzo. “The conduct of one individual commissioner cannot be permitted to cloud the work of the entire NJSEA in acting to further these goals.”
According to the attorney general’s office, the charges are the result of an ongoing investigation by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau and will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

