A Terroristic Divorce

Generally speaking, the unit will probe complaints from the public of elected officials or people in positions of trust who may have violated the public trust for their own financial benefit or simply for power, according to Ferman.

The unit will investigate theft-based crimes, abuse of authority and ethics violations, she said.

While the office has always investigated public corruption, there has not been just one unit assigned to the task.

Citing the public outrage stemming from the results of public corruption investigations in Washington, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Ferman said, “The public has lost confidence in many of their elected leaders and in government as a whole. We want to do what we can to help restore that confidence in government at the local and the county level.”

“I feel it is important that our residents know that there is an office in Montgomery County where they can raise their concerns, where those concerns will be taken seriously and where nobody need fear official retribution,” said Ferman.

Too often members of the public “feel something is just not right” but do not know to whom to take those concerns, she said. Now, she said, they will have a place to bring those concerns about public corruption.

“I want this office to be pro-active,” Ferman emphasized.

Ferman, a Republican, emphasized her office will handle complaints about Republicans and Democrats equally.

“Those who abuse their power often believe themselves untouchable because of their public position or public influence,” said Ferman. “I can assure the people of Montgomery County that nobody is ‘untouchable.’”

That is one of the reasons she tapped Assistant District Attorney Samantha L.R. Cauffman to serve as team captain of the new unit.

“I put someone in charge of the unit who is as non-political, as apolitical as you can get,” said Ferman. “Samantha Cauffman is a hard-charging prosecutor who takes no prisoners, who has done a tremendous job in this office going after some of the worst sex offenders we have had and I have complete confidence in her ability and drive to do the job the right way.”

Detective Lt. Mark A. Bernstiel, who heads the detectives’ special investigation unit and previously headed the elite law enforcement CLEAN unit that helped combat crime in Norristown, will provide the investigative support that the new unit needs.

The new unit will have all of the investigative tools of the office at its disposal including the use of the investigating grand jury, grants of immunity and the use of informants and electronic devices such as wiretaps, according to Ferman.