theconnectionsnj.com HOME & DESIGN PAGE 36 Sheriff Darrin J. Russo leads the Somer- Somerset County Sheriff’s Office with honor and distinction. He prides himself on leading by example, with integrity and dedication. Sheriff Russo, a married father of five children, has lived in Franklin Township in Somerset County since 1989. Russo is a retired lieutenant from the Franklin Township Police Department with over 30 years of law enforcement experience. He has worked with county, state, and federal agencies on high-profile investigations and organized some of the largest mobilization of officers in Somerset County to combat gang activity, violent crimes, and robberies. He has managed a staff of 16 officers, four sergeants, and multiple police units that served the citizens of Franklin Township, earning him numerous citations and awards in addition to being named a two-time recipient of the Somerset County 200 Club Award. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for a wide range of services to maintain a safe and secure environment in Somerset County including the following: 1. Maintaining and securing the Somerset County Courthouse and the county complex in historic downtown Somerville and providing support and specialized law enforcement services to law enforcement agencies throughout the county. 2. Operating the Somerset County Jail which provides care and custody to persons incarcerated and committed by the courts. 3. Running the Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification. The Bureau of Criminal Identification, known as “BCI”, is responsible for the positive identification of suspects, defendants, and inmates for all law enforcement agencies within Somerset County, the State of New Jersey, and for any other national or foreign agency requiring assistance. 4. Overseeing the Sheriff’s Sales and Civil Process Unit. Sheriff Russo, by virtue of his office, serves as an officer of the Court. He is required to conduct or adjourn sales in accordance with State Statutes or Court Rules. 5. Running Somerset County’s award-winning Sheriff’s K-9 Unit. This unit utilizes both patrol and detection canines which protect the citizens of Somerset County 24/7. 6. Operating the Special Response Team which responds to emergencies and provides law enforcement with specialized tactical resources. 7. Overseeing a Gang & Terrorism Intelligence Unit which provides critical information for law enforcement and monitors potential crime trends in the region. 8. Providing safe transportation of county prisoners, executing civil and criminal court warrants, and processing civil documents. 9. Providing a full-time certified School Resource Officer for schools in the Somerset County Vocational-Technical School District. 10. Assisting municipal police departments and conducting safety programs for schools and county residents. The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office keeps drugs off the streets by operating as an official year-round medicine drop-off location for unwanted, unused, and expired medications. Additional programs provided by the Sheriff’s Office include Project Lifesaver, Active Shooter Training, an unserviceable American Flag collection point, a Boy Scout Police Explorer Post, a Hate Crimes Awareness and Prevention Unit, a Chaplain Program, and other services. Under Sheriff Russo’s leadership, the national evidence-based drug and violence program - Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence (LEAD) - was brought to Somerset County to help keep our children safe. The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is constantly training and updating its personnel with the most current and needed resources to keep Somerset County a safe place to live and work. We look forward to making a difference in the coming years in the lives of Somerset County residents and visitors. COMMUNITY NEWS... Somerset County Sheriff’s OfficeProtecting the Community By William Schievella The Experts in Tree Pruning and Removals Since 1982 908-756-4100 HOCKENBURY ELECTRICAL CO., INC 908-725-0313 Fully InsurHG /LFHQVH ZZZ KRFNHQEXU\HOHFWULF FRP CommerFLDO ,QGXstrial ReVLGHQtial 9 ² Over 100 YEARS of SERVICE
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