On Wednesday October 19, 2016 members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Elizabeth and Union Police Departments, participated in the 14th Annual National Family Violence Apprehension Detail. Union County agencies were part of approximately 220 Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments nationwide that attempted to serve outstanding arrest warrants related to Family Violence. In Union County, Sheriff’s Officers attempted to serve 36 warrants, resulting in the physical arrest of 15 individuals for outstanding Family Violence issues and the voluntary surrender of 12 people for enforcement of child support matters. Officers additionally served 11 Temporary Restraining Orders on defendants accused of Domestic Violence in a NJ DV Civil Complaint over a twenty four hour period.
This annual nationwide effort, coordinated by the Clackamas, OR Sheriff’s Office, is held in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Union County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office to identify priority cases in which offenders were accused and charged with Violation of DV Restraining Orders, but never located and arrested. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation and Family Violence Units, under the supervision of LT Carlo Caparruva and LT Cliff Meros, worked leads to establish the whereabouts of all offenders and served the warrants over a twenty-four hour period on October 19.
Sheriff Joseph Cryan stated, “This is an example of harnessing the resources of all law enforcement agencies. There are victims in our County that did not feel safe knowing that the offenders had not yet faced justice for their crimes. Our Officers worked with the Prosecutor’s Office Family Violence Unit and the Police Departments where the charges originated to help ensure that those accused of Domestic Violence are brought forth to the proper adjudication of those charges. I hope that we can help a few of those victims sleep a little more soundly this evening. While this Sweep was a single day event, this is an ongoing issue and a priority for the Union County Sheriff’s Office. My Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to help ensure the safety of victims of Domestic Violence on a daily basis.”
For more information or assistance, contact the New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The confidential 24-hour, seven-day-a-week hotline aids domestic violence victims and others seeking information, referral services or crisis intervention.