Jonathan Sammons, the former Gloucester County sheriff, is suing the county, claiming that after winning the 2021 election, he was subjected to retaliation and discrimination by county officials. He alleges that they withheld resources, relocated his office to a dilapidated jail, undermined his authority, and interfered with the election process.
A former Gloucester County sheriff is alleging that after his 2021 election victory, county officials retaliated against him by withholding resources and relocating his office to a dilapidated, decommissioned jail. Jonathan Sammons , who faced defeat in the November 2024 sheriff's election against Democratic candidate Carmel Morina , has filed a lawsuit against the county, asserting unfair treatment during his tenure.
Sammons claims in the lawsuit, filed last month in Atlantic County Superior Court, that the Democratic-controlled county administration discriminated against him based on his race and political affiliation. He alleges that the county moved the Sheriff's Office from the County Administration Building to a former correctional facility without a justifiable reason shortly after he assumed office. This facility, according to court documents, was described as moldy, equipped with items salvaged from dumpsters, lacking potable water, and suffering from extreme and uncomfortable temperatures. Sammons asserts that no previous sheriff had been subjected to such conditions.Furthermore, Sammons claims the county undermined his authority by excluding him from critical meetings and decisions, including those concerning his department's budget. He and his staff were allegedly told they were performing their duties incorrectly despite years of experience in those roles. The lawsuit also alleges that Sammons was denied essential help and resources, and members of his command staff were instructed not to answer his questions or provide him with building tours. By the end of 2022, Sammons was informed that vehicles allocated for the Sheriff's Office were ready, but the county chose to assign two of the four vehicles to part-time Fire Marshals, according to the complaint. Additionally, the county installed a GPS tracking device on Sammons' work vehicle, a measure not implemented for the previous sheriff. Upon discovering the device, Sammons ordered its removal.In the 2024 election, Morina defeated Sammons by a slim margin of fewer than 600 votes. The lawsuit concludes with Sammons' allegation that Gloucester County administrators used their social media platforms to influence the election in favor of Morina and other Democratic candidates. A separate lawsuit filed against Gloucester County by Jeanine Philips, Sammons' assistant during his term as sheriff, also alleges that the county stopped paying her after she submitted her time on a timesheet instead of using a time clock due to working outside of a standard workday. This lawsuit is currently pending in federal court
Politics Local News Gloucester County Sheriff Jonathan Sammons Retaliation Discrimination Carmel Morina Election Interference Lawsuit
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