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The letter could “increase an already growing demand� for a no-confidence vote by union members, said their president, Officer Gabe Crocker. He would not specify other grievances.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County Executive Steve Stenger also wrote a letter in support of Michael Saracino II, who with about a dozen others was indicted in federal court in 2014 in connection with a ring that distributed millions of dollars worth of marijuana.

Saracino, 27, is the nephew of John Saracino, who was a member of the county Board of Police Commissioners for about five years — until Stenger named him director of constituent services in January 2015 at an annual salary of $130,000.

In that role, Stenger said, John Saracino serves as his liaison to commissions, including the police board, where he attends meetings and executive sessions.

Stenger said Wednesday that John Saracino had asked him to write a letter on his nephew’s behalf. The Saracinos are members of a prominent family of restaurateurs.

were written after Michael Saracino II pleaded guilty July 7 of conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana — but before he was sentenced.

Some conspirators came from affluent backgrounds, and charges are still pending against several. The lead defendant got seven years.

The drug operation used small planes to span several states, according to court documents. It involved a firebombing — that mistakenly destroyed the home of a 72-year-old widow — and the kidnapping and beating of someone else, according to court testimony.

On Dec. 17, Saracino II was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Sentencing guidelines called for 46 to 57 months, although other factors, including any cooperation with investigators, could have lowered his sentence. The plea agreement is sealed.

His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, declined to comment on the case or whether his client cooperated. But he said that Belmar had written “as a friend of the family and not in his professional capacity.�

Rosenblum said it was “hard to gauge� the impact of letters supporting a defendant, saying that it varies “case by case.�

U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry would not discuss her decision, but made public , a Roman Catholic priest.

Prosecutors referred questions to U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan. “When I was a judge,� he said, “the letters were a nice thing to have but I don’t recall them ever being terribly influential.� He noted, that “the major decisions are guided by the facts of the case.�

As for Belmar, Callahan said: “In my mind I have too much respect for the man to be critical of him and even the letter itself, I didn’t see anything that was untruthful.�

County detectives participated in a federal task force on the case, Crocker said.

“It’s disappointing from a police officer’s point of view when the chief undermines the hard work of his own officers for some political gain, and it weakens the bond between a chief and his officers,� Crocker said in an interview this week. “This is another indication that the Belmar administration’s cylinders aren’t firing correctly.�

Officials defend letters

Belmar said he had acted at the request of John Saracino and his brother, Michael Saracino.

“I believe I have a good track record of law and order, and part of that also is, there is room in the world for compassion,� the chief said. “His family asked me to do this and I thought about it for a while. It would not have been something I would have done for Michael Jr., but I felt it was appropriate for the family. That was the only reason I did it, because of the empathy I had for the family.�

John Saracino did not return a call seeking comment.

Stenger said, “It’s completely appropriate for someone who has personal knowledge of an individual that their friends and family often write letters for an individual being sentenced. I didn’t ask that he be let off the hook. It’s asking the judge to take into consideration the things I said in the letter.

“He knows his behavior was wrong and that his family will support him.�

In his Oct. 8 letter, Stenger wrote that he met Michael Saracino II about six years ago when Saracino was Stenger’s waiter at Bartolino’s South, one of the Saracino family’s three restaurants.

Court records show that Stenger, as a lawyer, had represented Michael Saracino II when he pleaded guilty to refusing to take a breath test during a traffic stop in 2012.

In 2013, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County prosecutors charged Michael Saracino II with money laundering after troopers arrested him at the River City Casino with $26,870 in cash. He told investigators it was from restaurant wages and tips. That charge is pending.

Stenger said he had not written any other letters of support for criminals.

In this one, he wrote, “Based on my experience with Michael and his family, I respectfully request that you grant him leniency in your sentencing for the crimes he has committed.� It was not on county letterhead but did carry his office address.

Belmar’s Nov. 17 letter, on department letterhead, states, in part, “With regard to Michael’s offense, I will offer no excuse, but to say that I believe that he has the benefit of having a strong family surrounding him … I remain confident that whatever decision you render in this matter, it is the right decision and you enjoy my full support.�

He said he does not believe his comments undermine the work of his officers, and said nothing was done to sway the investigation. But he said of his use of official stationery: “I didn’t necessarily think it all the way through.�

He said he once wrote a letter on a defendant’s behalf when he was a captain, but does not recall the circumstances.

Stenger said he had not seen Belmar’s letter but had no problem with use of the letterhead.

Crocker, the union president, complained, “This letter should not have been written by Jon Belmar much less Chief Jon Belmar and to do it on department letterhead on a case that his own investigators were involved in is unnerving. I have less of a problem with Stenger, because he didn’t do it on letterhead, he knows the family and he’s not a law enforcement officer.

“However, it’s still a mixed signal for officers working as part of county government.�

Stenger accused Crocker of “having an ax to grind� for being turned down for a job in his administration.

Crocker denied any rancor and said he had expressed interest after hearing of a possible spot for a law enforcement liaison. He added, “The position never materialized, I never heard anything else about it, and I’m not really sure what this has to do with these letters.�