ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic County sheriff candidate Sean Riggin says he would conduct a comprehensive review of Sheriff's Office staffing and assignments if elected, with the goal of identifying personnel who could provide additional support to municipal police departments.
Riggin outlined the proposal Tuesday, Sept. 22, during an interview on The Don Williams Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND.
The Atlantic City public safety director and former Pleasantville police chief said he wants to examine how personnel are assigned throughout the Sheriff's Office and determine whether additional resources could be made available to communities across Atlantic County.
"We're going to do a comprehensive review of all of the posts and positions within the sheriff's department," Riggin told Williams.
He said the review would help determine where personnel could be reassigned to provide additional services.
"We're going to see where we can free up anybody that can go out and serve the local communities," he said.
Transportation to County Jail Identified as a Priority
Riggin said one of the services municipal police chiefs have requested is assistance transporting detainees from local police departments to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
He suggested that additional transportation assistance could allow municipal officers to spend more time on other police duties.
"And overwhelmingly what we're hearing, what they need is transportation from the police departments to the jail," Riggin said.
The proposal would require determining whether Sheriff's Office personnel could be reassigned or whether other operational changes would be necessary.
Riggin did not provide a specific staffing target, estimated cost or implementation schedule during the interview.
He also did not identify which municipal police departments had requested additional transportation services.
Sheriff's Office Already Performs Countywide Duties
The Atlantic County Sheriff's Office currently has responsibilities involving court security, legal process, community policing, traffic enforcement and other law enforcement services.
According to the county's official history of the Sheriff's Office, its responsibilities have expanded over time to include specialized courthouse security, traffic safety and community policing.
The county's published information also describes an office with approximately 100 sworn officers and 35 civilian positions, although those figures should not be treated as a verified September 2026 staffing count.
The Atlantic County Justice Facility is operated by the county's Department of Public Safety rather than the Sheriff's Office.
County correctional officers have responsibilities that can include transporting inmates between correctional facilities, court appearances, medical appointments and other authorized destinations.
The Sheriff's Office also has arrangements involving prisoner transportation.
Riggin's proposal specifically concerns determining whether the Sheriff's Office could provide additional transportation assistance to municipal police departments.
The interview did not establish whether such assistance would require additional personnel, new agreements or changes to existing procedures.
Municipal Police Chiefs Would Help Determine Priorities
Riggin said he would consult local police chiefs before deciding how additional Sheriff's Office resources should be deployed.
He emphasized that municipal departments have different needs and that countywide services should reflect those differences.
"We're going to talk to those local chiefs and say, what do you need?" Riggin said.
He said he would ask municipal departments to identify the services that would provide the most assistance.
"We think that people that know best what local communities need are their local law enforcement," he said.
Riggin previously served as Pleasantville police chief before becoming Atlantic City's public safety director in February 2025.
He said his experience in municipal law enforcement influences his approach to the Sheriff's Office.
Pierce Would Participate in Staffing Review
Riggin said his choice for undersheriff, retired Atlantic City Deputy Police Chief Bridget Pierce, would play an important role in reviewing personnel assignments.
Pierce appeared alongside Riggin during Tuesday's interview.
Riggin cited her experience managing police operations during a period of substantial staffing reductions at the Atlantic City Police Department.
He said that experience could help the Sheriff's Office evaluate its personnel needs while maintaining existing services.
Pierce also discussed the importance of employee morale and said she would make supporting Sheriff's Office personnel a priority.
However, she acknowledged that she did not know whether morale was currently a problem within the department.
Proposal Would Require Review of Existing Operations
Riggin's proposal would begin with an assessment of current Sheriff's Office assignments and discussions with municipal police chiefs.
The interview did not establish how many officers could be reassigned, which existing assignments might change or whether additional funding would be necessary.
It also did not establish whether the proposed transportation assistance would be available to every municipality or limited to departments requesting the service.
Those questions would have to be resolved before any operational changes could be implemented.
Riggin said his goal would be to use the Sheriff's Office's existing resources to provide services that municipal police departments identify as priorities.
For Atlantic County residents, the proposal raises a practical question about how the Sheriff's Office could balance its existing responsibilities with additional assistance to local departments.
The staffing review and expanded transportation services remain proposals contingent on Riggin winning the November election and taking office.
Sean Riggin and Bridget Pierce discussed their plans for the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office during an interview on The Don Williams Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The Don Williams Show airs Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m.
About the Author
Scott Stephens
Scott has been an on-air personality, producer and newscaster for 30+ years. He has been a mainstay in the South Jersey Community and on the air across many different area stations. Scott can currently be heard on Kool 98.3 and News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
