Quote:

Right. And the HCDO names the candidate. Who headed the HCDO the last time the sheriff was elected? And can you name who ran against him? Was there anyone running against him?

Actually you cant blame Healy for the Sheriff, that is a position that is voted in on by the public.

There's a reason that they use Hudson county as a model when they study corruption in law school.

Of corse the sheriff was hand picked by none other than Gerry Healy.

CONVICTED FELON LIVING RENT-FREE IN CONDO

Hudson County Sheriff's second in command is linked to convicted felon

Monday, June 28, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A lawsuit brought by a condo association in Florida has brought to light a close relationship between the second in command of the Hudson County Sheriff's Office and a convicted loan shark.

For a decade, Michael DaPuzzo has been living rent-free in a condo apartment in Stuart, Florida owned by Hudson County Sheriff's Office Chief John Bartucci, according to court documents.

And before that, DaPuzzo was living free of charge in a building in Hoboken owned by Bartucci, according to court records.

The Dune Walk By The Ocean Condominium Association filed the lawsuit because neither Bartucci nor DaPuzzo had signed a lease.

On May 12, 2010, Florida Judge Thomas Walsh ordered Bartucci and DaPuzzo to apply for a lease within 30 days and pay the plaintiff's legal costs.

In his order, the judge refers to a copy of DaPuzzo's 1999 conviction for usury which states there is "substantial likelihood of organized crime involvement."

"Perhaps this 'free rent payment' for Mr. DaPuzzo, a convicted felon with an alleged relationship to organized crime, is simply an embarrassment to Mr. Bartucci," Walsh says in his ruling. "Perhaps it is much more.

"For whatever reason - including the fact that Mr. DaPuzzo collects a disability payment and had an outstanding federal judgment against him - it is evident that both gentlemen desire to prevent any written record that may characterize Mr. DaPuzzo's tenancy or occupancy," the judge added.

Bartucci declined to comment and DaPuzzo could not be reached.

In his ruling, Walsh states that DaPuzzo, 67, has referred to himself as an employee of Bartucci, 60, who in turn has said he is merely helping a friend he's known from Hoboken since 1967. DaPuzzo is a disabled veteran.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Robert Knapp declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said last week he has worked with Bartucci for over 35 years and the chief "has the respect of federal, state and local law enforcement and an impeccable law enforcement background and record."

The issue with the Florida lease arose when the condo association checked records after repairs were made following Hurricane Katrina and found Bartucci's unit was the only one without a lease agreement.

At one point DaPuzzo was named condo association treasurer but was forced to resign when it was learned he is a felon, according to court records.

The judge noted that Bartucci has only visited the condo three times since buying it in November 2000.