The shooting death of June Huhn in Long Branch on Friday has been ruled a suicide by the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office following an autopsy, according to Charles Webster, spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The body of June Huhn, 73, the wife of former Long Branch Mayor Phillip Huhn, was found with a fatal gunshot wound in the couples’ Norwood Ave home this morning.
As with any investigation, especially one involving a law enforcement officer, I cannot legally release certain information to the press, no matter how much I may want to, until that investigation has been completed. This was the situation with the incident involving Officer Patrick Joyce, Jr.
Now that the investigation is complete, and charges filed, I can issue the following statement, with much outrage and embarrassment. Officer Patrick Joyce Jr was charged with Criminal Sexual Contact (4th degree) and Harassment (Disorderly Persons offense) by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, February 8th, 2019. While the matter was under investigation, he was immediately suspended without pay, which was supported by the command staff of the department and the City’s leadership. He is now facing termination of his employment.
The State Legislature is still toiling in Trenton making sure Governor Phil Murphy’s conditional vetoes match what he agreed to with Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin yesterday, but Murphy has left the Capitol and returned home to Monmouth County where is issued the Oath of Office to Long Branch Mayor John Pallone moments ago.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider on Friday afternoon
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said he was filled with a mix of positive emotions when I spoke with him on Friday, three days after he was defeated for reelection after twenty-eight years leading the city.
“I feel a sense of pride in a way I never have before since my work is now complete,” the mayor said. “A lot of pressure lifted, almost instantly gone. I didn’t even realize how much pressure.”
Schneider said his immediate plans are to put some work into his law practice before taking some time off with his wife, Pat. Then there will be summer days on the beach as he contemplates what is next for his career. “Sitting on the beach, reading book and taking a nap is my perfect summer day,” he said. “I hope to have lot of those this summer.”
Long Branch Mayor-elect John Pallone did not show up Tuesday night to celebrate his landslide victory over incumbent Mayor Adam Schneider because he had heart surgery earlier in the day.
Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, one of Pallone’s running mates who was reelected on Tuesday, shocked the enthusiastic crowd of supporters gathered at the Italian American Memorial Association clubhouse on West End Ave. with her announcement that the mayor-elect had been hospitalized earlier in the day, according to a source who was present at the party.
The seriousness of the mayor-elect’s condition and his expected recovery time were not announced. Read the rest of this entry »
Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien ruled this afternoon, in Freehold, that the Board of Elections and all district workers will provide all credentialed Challengers with total vote counts in each ward and district in today’s municipal election in Long Branch, in two hour intervals, so long as there is no disruption in the flow and voting.
Sources in the Schneider camp report that their credentialed challengers have been instructed to leave polling places by poll workers claiming the instructions came from Freehold. Lawyers are involved.
Tensions will be running high in Long Branch all day.
Long Branch and Keansburg are holding municipal non-partisan elections today, Tuesday May 8th.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters unsure of their polling place can check at MonmouthCountyVotes.com
In Keansburg, the election is uncontested. James Cocuzza Sr will be elected to his fourth four year term on the borough council. Judy Ferraro will be elected to her first term on the governing body.
Long Branch is contested. Voters in The Friendly City will elect a mayor and an entire five member City Council.
Everyone said John Pallone, candidate for mayor of Long Branch, would never agree to an interview. They were right, so we took matters into our own hands.
Long Branch voters go to the polls on Tuesday, May 8th. Vote!
