Sheriff comments on challenger

Sussex County Sheriff Robert Untig is accustomed to having a challenger in the Republican primary or the general election, or both, but he has never faced a challenge that came five days after the previous election. Untig, sheriff for six three-year terms, noted the challenges seem to come earlier, but Mike Strada’s Nov. 12 announcement that he would be up against Untig in the 2007 primary was the earliest yet. Untig has been with the county for 27 years, starting as a corrections officer, transferring to the sheriff’s office in 1981 and coming up the ranks until he first ran for sheriff 18 years ago. Strada’s campaign calls for changes including prisoner work programs. But Untig noted in a recent telephone interview that he implemented the first work program in the county when he became sheriff. He explained his experience as a corrections officer convinced him the inmates should be out of the jail and doing something productive. The first work project was at an historic cemetery, Untig recalled. He worked with Bob Longcore, a county historian, to bring inmates to the cemetery behind what was then J. R. Roof Chevrolet in downtown Newton. Only certain inmates were appropriate for the work program. This program is called the Sheriff’s Work Assistance Program or SWAP, and helps non-profit organizations, such as the historical society or municipalities or county government agencies. Each inmate is selected as non violent and not a threat, Untig said. The second work program was the county’s participation in SLAP, the Sheriff Labor Assistance Program. This program is for people who are sentenced to serve time on weekends. Weekend service keeps the person employed, but is cumbersome for the sheriff’s department, Untig said. He explained each time the inmate arrives at the county jail, he has to be treated as if it were the first time, creating a paperwork nightmare. The two advantages to the county are that the inmates provide labor under similar circumstances to the SWAP program, and that they must pay to participate. Sussex County has had as many as 40 to 50 people participating at any one time, picking up litter, cleaning up playgrounds, painting churches, etc. Strada called for an inmate farm, similar to the one he worked with when he was a Morris County sheriff’s officer. Untig explained he explored the possibility early on and even operated one for a short time at he Homestead, but it wasn’t cost effective for Sussex County. Strada also noted in most counties in New Jersey, the sheriff’s office handles all prisoner transports. Untig said in such a large and rural county it would not be efficient. Police departments in Vernon and Hopatcong could need transport at the same time. He said he would have to hire more officers to put two officers in a car for transport duties. However, when needed, the sheriff’s department does provide transportation to the municipal court and/or back to jail, he said. Untig said he is very proud of his tenure as sheriff because he has always looked out for the taxpayer and found ways to give back to the residents of the