Since she first entered the U.S. Naval Academy at 18 years old, Mikie Sherrill has taken numerous oaths to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Today former Assistant U.S. Attorney and U.S. Navy veteran Mikie Sherrill stood by her record of service to this country and her commitment to our law enforcement agencies. As Assemblyman Jay Webber continues to put out false narratives about former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy veteran Mikie Sherrill, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik, and Mikie Sherrill released the following statements:
"I've known Mikie Sherrill for years, and I can tell you there is no stronger partner for law enforcement," said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura. "Mikie Sherrill will always stand up for our men and women in uniform and our community. Mikie doesn't support abolishing ICE, and when Assemblyman Webber questions her dedication and her service to our country, he lowers himself."
"I've known Mikie from her days as an Assistant U.S. Attorney here in New Jersey," said Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik. "She worked closely with officers in Passaic County to keep illegal guns off the street and prosecute drug dealers and has always strongly supported our law enforcement community. I know she will continue to do so in Congress."
"I stand with our law enforcement officials," said congressional candidate Mikie Sherrill. "I know how difficult their jobs are and the toll that gun violence, gang violence, and the opioid crisis takes on our officers and the communities they serve. I do not support the abolishment of ICE. I believe deeply that we must come together, Democrats and Republicans, to solve our immigration crisis by fixing our broken system and securing our borders.
"It is disappointing to me that Jay Webber is using law enforcement officers to further his own political agenda given that he has repeatedly voted against them. When he had the opportunity to provide healthcare benefits to law enforcement, or compensation for injured officers, he repeatedly voted no. I would put my record of service up against his any day.
"Furthermore, the people of New Jersey's 11th congressional district have been saying one thing for over a year--they want new leadership in Washington. That starts with honesty, integrity, and listening to the community. I challenge Assemblyman Webber to focus on solutions and end his pattern of engaging in divisive partisan politics."
Mikie Sherrill served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from 2012 to 2016, where she worked extensively with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to improve relationships with the community, keep illegal guns off the street, and address the opioid epidemic.
Assemblyman Jay Webber has repeatedly voted against law enforcement during his time in the state legislature. In 2017, Assemblyman Webber was one of only four members of the Assembly to vote no on a bill to create a compensation program for law enforcement officers (S596, 2017) injured in the line of duty. He voted no on a bill to require New Jersey to pay full healthcare benefits for retired state police officers (S3614, 2017).
While in office, Assemblyman Webber was the only person in the legislature to vote against a bill that would expand coverage for New Jerseyans suffering from opioid addiction and imposed restrictions on prescribing opioids.