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Friday, March 14, 2003 Page: 2A
Tom Merlie, who retired as captain after 37 years on the Wilkes-Barre
Police Department, has announced he will run for Luzerne County sheriff as a
Democrat. In 1996, he was captain of the city’s patrol division, where he led
and managed 65 patrolmen on a daily basis, according to his release.
“The recent events surrounding the Sheriff’s Department clearly indicate
that it’s time for a new sheriff in town,” Merlie stated in his release. “I
will not tolerate busted budgets, political infighting or sub-standard job
performance.”
Merlie is a 1956 graduate of GAR Memorial High School. He attended
Mansfield State College and graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police
Academy in Hershey in the Basic Fundamentals of Police Work in 1963.
Merlie lists training in a variety of law enforcement and criminal justice
procedures, including: hazardous materials response, ethnic intimidation,
institutional vandalism, fingerprinting, hostage negotiations, self defense,
boat rescue, advanced first aid, handling of juveniles and more.
“I will restore professionalism to the office to ensure the safety of
county employees and visitors to the courthouse,” Merlie said. “Prisoners
will be transported in a timely manner to attend hearings ordered by the
court.”
Merlie lives in Avoca. He has six children and six grandchildren. He is a
member of the Fraternal Order of Police, board member of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA
and the Wilkes-Barre Touchdown Club.