Balles To Leave Sheriff Office 7/30

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic County Sheriff Frank X. Balles announced Tuesday he will leave office July 30, five months before the end of his term.

He will return to the Pleasantville Police Department, where he will serve as a captain, his rank before being elected sheriff.

The 55-year-old from Egg Harbor Township said he is leaving effective July 30 because the captain’s position is open and would not be at the end of the year. He earned $107,250 as sheriff and will earn $118,000 in his new position. He will begin in Pleasantville on July 31.

Balles, a Republican, announced in December he would not seek re-election. He had endorsed Chief Warrant Officer Steven Caldwell, who has since retired. Running for sheriff are retired police captain and Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser, a Republican, and retired Atlantic City police Lt. Eric Scheffler, a Democrat.

Balles defeated incumbent Sheriff Jim McGettigan in 2008 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2014.

 “I am extremely proud of the men and women of this agency and what we have accomplished over the last almost nine years,” Balles said. “We have accomplished everything we set out to do and more, and I am excited to see where the next sheriff will take the agency. It has truly been my honor to serve as your sheriff.”

Balles is credited with reinstating a county K-9 unit, which assists with bomb detection, drug search and seizure, and missing persons. He established Project Lifesaver, which provides tracking for someone who might be prone to getting lost, such as an elderly relative or autistic child. He created an Explorer post for the Sheriff’s Office for youths interested in careers in law enforcement. He also assisted in the creation of the New Jersey Police Surgeons Program and Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office Police Chaplains program. And he oversaw sheriff’s sales of homes during a time in which the county led the nation in foreclosures.

“Doing more with less is something I learned in Pleasantville, and service to the public has always been my passion,” Balles said. “As sheriff, I was able to use my experience and passion for helping others to add additional service for county residents without adding additional expense.”

Entire article at
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/balles-leaving-atlantic-county-sheriff-s-office-to-return-to/article_67893632-8aa8-5d18-b0c3-4652937f901a.html