Hurley: It’s Time For ‘Small’ to go ‘Big’ for Atlantic City Police Chief

William Shakespeare really did get it right.

Past is Prologue.

Exactly 8 years ago today, we broke this news.

The exact same scenario is playing out all over again right now, as the state of New Jersey has been standing in the way of Atlantic City rightfully having a Chief of Police.

Regardless of the unjust state interference, then-Mayor Lorenzo Langford showed courage and moved to promote a deserving Henry White.

Current Mayor Marty Small Sr. should do the same thing now, without delay.

For more than a year, Atlantic City Deputy Chief of Police James Sarkos has served as Interim Officer in Charge.

Sarkos is an outstanding superior police officer by any standard of measure.

Atlantic City is not merely a City that stretches from Maine to Jackson Avenues, with right around 40,000 residents.

Atlantic City is a mature destination resort, which more than 20 million people visit each year.

Atlantic City has residing within it the state’s leading industry, the casino industry. They do a great job in “policing” themselves, however, they also need the external support of well-manned police and fire departments.

The state of New Jersey has presided over draconian staffing cuts, that now have placed the residents and visitors of Atlantic City at risk.

Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which has official, direct oversight of all Atlantic City affairs … has moved too slow regarding serious issues that must be addressed.

Yet, this state bureaucracy has moved at warp speed to make dangerous staffing cuts in both the police and fire departments.

For the good order of the Atlantic City Police Department, Sarkos should have been named Chief of Police long ago.

It’s time for Small to go Big … just do it … just like Langford did.

NOTE: The state’s legal hold over Atlantic City is an even tighter formal grip today than it was when Langford was Mayor.