Politics & Government
Freeholders Tap Former NFL Player To Head Juvy Detention Center
Jonathan Carman of Barnegat has served as a social worker at the center for more than ten years.
TOMS RIVER, NJ - The Ocean County Board of Freeholders has tapped a former NFL player to serve as the next superintendent of the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.
Jonathan Carman, 42, of Barnegat, is expected to be appointed to the position at the board's next regular meeting. He has served as a social worker at the detention center since 2005, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press
Freeholder John P. Kelly Jr. introduced Carman - who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings once - at the board caucus meeting on Wednesday.
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The position was first offered to Barbara Barr, social work services director at the detention center. She declined the promotion for personal reasons, Kelly said.
When Carman addressed the board, he praised Freeholder Gerry P. Little for condemning Gov. Phil Murphy's plan to legalize marijuana for recreation use.
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“I want to say thank you for your strong opposition to what’s going on,” Carman said. “I’ve met many, many kids that have come in and it’s from marijuana, from cannabis.”
He said juveniles suffer from withdrawal for about two weeks because “their brains have been rewired” from cannabis use.
“I can tell you that you are absolutely right with that cannabis opposition,” he told Little.
Kelly also asked the 6-foot, 7-inch tall Carman to stand during the meeting so people could see how imposing his height is, according to the report.
“What we need are people who are going to be very firm and very strict, and set the rules,” Kelly said “But also, make sure that we’re working with kids so that they know there is a future ahead of them. Many people have an NFL player come in once a year to talk to the kids about opportunity. We have somebody here who can talk to these kids every day about real opportunities.”
Carman played in the NFL for three season, until his career ended with the Vikings in 2002 after he suffered multiple injuries.
He will succeed Walter Hopson, who retires on March 1.
Photo: Courtesy of Ocean County Government website
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