The Presumption of Innocence - Episode 61

Episode 61 A Call to Service: From Public Duty to Spiritual Advocacy Father Joseph Ciccone's mission to serve the public has been an unwavering and guiding force throughout his life. He’s held many titles over the years: Police Officer. Teacher. Detective. Bergen County Sheriff. Priest. But the title that brings him to the podcast today is that of convicted felon. Father Joe joins host Matt Adams to detail his life of public service, from his early days as a beat cop in the 1980s to his foray into elected public office — which ultimately led him to become the target both of hate crimes and of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. After pleading guilty, Father Joe dedicated his life as a priest to advocacy for criminal justice reform. This thought-provoking episode also touches on how Father Joe’s personal life as a gay man and his progressive social initiatives as a cop, detective and county sheriff impacted the trajectory of his life.