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==Law enforcement career==
Speziale joined New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1983. In 1986, he was shot in the arm during a shootout with an addict who had taken hostages.<ref>Todd S. Purdump. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/26/nyregion/2-dead-and-4-hurt-including-3-officers-in-a-bronx-shootout.html 2 Dead and 4 Hurt Including 3 Officers in a Bronx Shootout], ''The New York Times'', February 26, 1986.</ref> Speziale later worked as a detective on the narcotics squad, and befriended future NYPD Commissioner [[Bernard Kerik]].<ref name=NYTrides/><ref name="richardcowen,jennifercunninghamandandreaalexander"/><ref name="lagniappemobile.com">{{cite web|url=http://lagniappemobile.com/man-tapped-as-prichards-chief-of-police-has-lauded-controversial-career/|title=Man tapped as Prichard's chief of police has lauded, controversial career - LagniappeLagniappe|work=Lagniappe}}</ref> During the 1990s, he became an undercover agent for the DEA, and was a member of the DEA's "Group 93," which was tasked with fighting Colombian Drug Cartels.<ref name=NYTrides/><ref name="lagniappemobile.com"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015664?refCatId=13 |title=Project's based on true story of undercover New Jersey cop |publisher=Variety.com |date= 2010-02-23|accessdate=2011-11-23 |first=Dave |last=McNary}}</ref> Having reached the rank of first-grade detective, Speziale retired from the NYPD on a disability pension in 1997, citing injuries. He returned to police work at the Bergen County Sheriff's Department, and served as the Chief of Police for [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]], for five months in 2000, before running for Sheriff of Passaic County in the November, 2001 elections.<ref name="richardcowen,jennifercunninghamandandreaalexander"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2000-09-28/news/25581546_1_jerry-speziale-new-hope-borough-council-meeting|title=Speziale Steps Down As New Hope's Police Chief|work=philly-archives}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2010/08/11/kerik-pal-getting-a-top-pa-cop-post/|title=Kerik pal getting a top PA-cop post|work=New York Post | first=Philip|last=Messing|date=August 11, 2010}}</ref>
===Passaic County Sheriff===
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