Opponents of Jail Privatization Plans Are Trying to Intimidate Freeholders

PRESS RELEASE

Camden County officials, intent on saving taxpayers millions of dollars by making the County Jail, the County’s largest expense at $58 million a year, more cost-effective and efficient, are being targeted by opponents of the plan. Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., (photo) and County Administrator Ross Angilella, have both been victims of acts of destruction against their homes and property.

A pile of leaves was dumped and set on fire on Freeholder Cappelli’s lawn last week, while his wife and five children were inside. There is a police report on file at the Collingswood Police Department.

According to Freeholder Cappelli, County Administrator Ross Angilella had the tires slashed on his two family cars in two separate incidents within less than a week. These are cars driven by Angilella and his family, including his teenage son who is a new driver. The actions are not just property crimes, but vandalism that could have caused a serious accident or injuries said Cappelli. 

Cappelli said prior to the tire vandalism, protest literature regarding the jail was thrown under his car, which was parked in front of his house at the time. All incidents have been reported to Haddon Township police. Incidents against both officials are being

investigated by the County Prosecutor’s Office.

“These acts are examples of thuggery and are totally unacceptable in any public debate over the future of the Jail,” Cappelli said. “We will not be intimidated. We are focused on doing the right thing for the County, which is cutting the tax burden by privatizing the County Jail, which accounts for almost 20 percent of the County budget, making it the County’s single largest expense.

“The attempts to harass and intimidate public officials and to scare the public with misleading information are outrageous. These opponents obviously did not get the message of the last election, which is that taxpayers have had enough. They cannot afford to pay more and more for public employees’ services and perks year after year. We respect the work that these employees do at the Jail, but the pendulum has swung in terms of the public being willing to continue to pay for the perks and concessions to public employee unions, including abuse of sick time and the overtime costs it leads to,” Cappelli said.

“We have tried negotiating with the state and local PBA on this issue, and have asked them to propose solutions but, so far, they have presented us with no viable alternatives. Instead, it appears that they have chosen to resort to scare tactics, trying to mislead the public into thinking our plan would make them unsafe, and they are harassing my family and me,” said County Administrator Ross Angilella.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office yesterday warned County Jail personnel that these incidents of vandalism against public officials are crimes that will be prosecuted and those found guilty will lose their jobs. The office said it is taking “proactive steps” to guard against such crimes.

“We call on the state and local PBA to publicly condemn this criminal behavior and to take appropriate disciplinary action against those found guilty of these crimes,” Cappelli said. “These violent acts against property are a diversion from solving serious problems for taxpayers, one that could impact public safety if nothing is done to remedy the situation of a seriously overcrowded jail, in poor condition, which is under fire in a federal lawsuit charging that the conditions in the jail violate inmates’ constitutional rights.

“We need to work in an atmosphere of cooperation, not intimidation, to arrive at viable solutions,” Cappelli said, noting that 75 corrections officers appeared at the Haddon Township monthly municipal meeting this week to protest against a privatized jail solution.

“Rather than working with us to solve these problems for the taxpayer, it appears that some have chosen instead to act like the inmates they claim to be the most adept at guarding.”

For more information on the County’s plans in a PowerPoint presentation and the experts reports that led them to this conclusion, go to http://www.camdencounty.com/jail/index.html Pertinent media pieces on the topic are there as well.