Bergen Sheriff Hired Nephew, Says He'll Make Nepotism Rule: Report

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The sheriff of New Jersey's most populous county said he will create a nepotism rule in his department, a report says, several months after he appointed his nephew as a sheriff's investigator.

A report by NorthJersey.com details how Sheriff Anthony Cureton was able to appoint his nephew Justin: entirely legally, as New Jersey law allows each sheriff to appoint up to 15 percent of people working in their department.

And, officials told reporter Steve Janoski, Cureton didn't violate any anti-nepotism policies because his office doesn't have such rules. Cureton plans to put policies in place, but there's no timeline for that according to Janoski.

A Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Janoski that Justin Cureton faced the same interviews and background checks as everyone else. However, as Janoski reports, Sheriff Cureton didn't hire his nephew through the state's civil service system.

Justin Cureton, 30, has experience as a public safety officer and has worked at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center, Janoski reported.

More information is available on NorthJersey.com.