SEA ISLE CITY –– This city’s mayor and Cape May County Freeholder Leonard Desiderio has been under increased protection following a death threat he received last week.

According to Sgt. Dennis Felsing of the Sea Isle City Police Department, Desiderio received a letter in which his life was threatened on Feb. 11.

“As a precaution, we (police) utilized a metal detecting security wand at the City Council meeting that night,” Felsing said. “We also contacted the county Sheriffs Department and asked them to increase security at the Feb. 13 freeholder meeting.”

In addition to the regular guard that evening, two Sheriff’s officers were stationed at the Freeholder Meeting Room inside the county complex on Moore Road.

When asked about the increased security measures at the freeholder meeting, Desiderio confirmed that the extra guards were for him.

Felsing said the incident remains under investigation by Detective Sgt. Kirk Rohrer and Detective Anthony Garreffi, of the Sea Isle City Police Department’s Detectives Bureau.

According to Felsing, the letter has also been sent to the county Prosecutor’s Office, which is equipped to evaluate fingerprint and trace evidence.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com