Atlantic County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Statement on Senator Timberlake's CWPP Statement

As a Constitutional Officer, I am committed to protecting the interests of the public and upholding the United States Constitution, particularly The Takings Clause articulated in the Fifth Amendment, which states that “private property shall not be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

The nonprofit provision of the Community Wealth Preservation Program (CWPP) permitted nonprofit organizations to acquire properties through Sheriff’s Sales without the necessity of placing bids, and without offering property equity to homeowners.

I recognized this practice as fundamentally unjust to both the taxpayers and homeowners of Atlantic County, who were already in precarious situations regarding their housing. Consequently, the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office took the initiative to be among the first jurisdictions in the state to suspend the
nonprofit segment of the CWPP pending the passage of new legislation. This action has since become a widely accepted policy across the state.

Lastly, I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as a member of the Executive Board of the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey, a position I wholeheartedly accepted. This role enables me to address the important issue of ensuring the proper constitutional execution of the law with all the state sheriffs.

Sheriff Joseph O’Donoghue

Read Senator Timberlake's Statement in Support of Sheriffs and Counties Suspending the Nonprofit Portion of the CWPP Until New Law Passes