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Former Sheriff Edwin “Eddie” Englehardt, 80, “was OK,” Speziale told CLIFFVIEW PILOT, “but the circumstances were alarming. He started to stutter-step and almost fainted while we were [waiting for the ambulance,” along with the former sheriff’s dog, who’d been in his vehicle.
Speziale wasn’t about to wait. It was Sunday morning, and the sun was already beating down.
“I said this could be either heat, dehydration or a stroke,” he told CVP. “And as you know, either could be fatal based on time and response.”
So the sheriff put Englehardt and the pooch into his Suburban and headed straight to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, escorted by two police cruisers. Emergency room personnel were waiting when they arrived.
Englehardt was sheriff for 28 years, and pretty much called the political shots, as well. He was known for being tough but fair — despite a scathing newspaper investigation that succeeded in giving him one of the largest victory margins ever in the following election.
After an infamous mob snitch named Kenny “The Rat” O’Donnell slipped out of the Passaic County Jail by bribing a guard, Englehardt ordered an immediate blackout on any and all information. However, a local reporter got the story, anyway.
Englehardt summoned the reporter to the jail. Instead of initiating a confrontation, the sheriff extended his hand and offered to answer any and all of the reporter’s questions — then and at any time in the future. That promise was never broken.
He also offered to put the newsman through the police academy, should he decide to change careers.
“You have my respect,” Englehardt said. “And that’s not easy to get.”
Speziale said they both laughed when Englehardt called him “a great cop and crazy [expletive] driver” on the way to the hospital. That’s when “I knew he was gonna be OK,” the relieved sheriff told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Family members were summoned, and the dog was taken to the sheriff’s department kennel until Englehardt was released a short time later.
Speziale, never one to ever shy away from the spotlight, clearly would have preferred keeping the incident low-key, clearly out of respect for Englehardt.
“He was extremely humble, thankful for my concern and personal attention,” the sheriff said, modestly.
“As far as I’m concerned, he is still sharp as a tack,” Speziale told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I was just worried about the heat and the possibility of a stroke. I’m glad he’s back home.”
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