Freeholder Director Sidesteps Question of Interest in Sheriff's Post

Kelly has expressed interest in becoming head of the Ocean County sheriff's department in the past

Does John P. Kelly want to be the next Ocean County sheriff? It's a question Kelly, who just took over as freeholder director, won't answer. "I am committed to doing the best job possible as freeholder director," Kelly said in front of county employees and others as the Ocean County Board of Freeholders prepared to go into closed session Wednesday at the biweekly preboard meeting, in response to a question. But it's common knowledge among party insiders that Kelly has wanted to be sheriff long before longtime Sheriff William L. Polhemus died in December. Kelly - who has no law enforcement background - was already interested in the position when former Undersheriff Wayne L. Rupert died suddenly in October 2011. Polhemus appointed William T…

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