Arrested: Gerard J. Pollastro, age 40, of Wantage Township, NJ. < Back Sheriff's officers arrest Wantage man for DWI Arrested: Gerard J. Pollastro, age 40, of Wantage Township, NJ. Previous Next At approximately 10:00 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, December 20, 2012, Sheriff’s Officer Samantha Schilling was assigned to traffic enforcement within Wantage Township. While patrolling that area, she observed a motor vehicle operated by Gerard Pollastro failing to maintain his lane of traffic. After initiating a motor vehicle stop, speaking with Pollastro, and observing him attempt to perform several field sobriety tests, Sheriff’s Officer Schilling found him to be intoxicated. Officer Schilling took Pollastro into custody and transported him back to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office where he was processed and released pending a future court appearance in Wantage Township Municipal Court. He was issued summonses for reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and driving while intoxicated. Sheriff’s Officer Scott Haggerty and Sheriff’s Sergeant John Gray assisted in the arrest.

Arrested: Raymond Babcock, age 41, of Lafayette, NJ. < Back Sheriff's detectives apprehend fugitive in Lafayette Arrested: Raymond Babcock, age 41, of Lafayette, NJ. Previous Next On Friday, January 11, 2013, sheriff’s detectives Matt Caine and William Lunger were in Lafayette Township attempting to locate Raymond Babcock who was the subject of four separate arrest warrants issued by the Sussex County Superior Court. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office had received multiple tips from anonymous sources directly to the office as well as through the Sussex County Crime Stoppers tip line regarding Babcock’s whereabouts. Acting on that information, detectives Caine and Lunger arrived at the residence of a friend of Babcock’s and asked for permission to search the premises. The homeowner consented to allow Detective Lunger to search the residence. While searching a closet in the upstairs bathroom of the house, Detective Lunger discovered Babcock hiding in a crawl space in the rear of the closet. Detective Lunger immediately placed Babcock under arrest and transported him to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Further investigation revealed the existence of an additional arrest warrant for Babcock issued by the Newton Municipal Court. Babcock was additionally charged with resisting arrest by flight. He was issued a summons to appear in Frankford Municipal Court at a future date. Raymond Babcock is currently lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility without bail.

SLAP The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office offers the Sheriffs Labor Assistance Program (SLAP) to certain non-violent offenders sentenced to a term supervised by the Sussex Sheriff’s Office. This program has been highly successful and is explained in sections listed below. Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP) The SLAP program is a community-based labor program that provides a structured alternative to incarceration for persons sentenced by Sussex County Courts. Persons sentenced to SLAP are able to pay their dept to society by performing moderate levels of manual labor. This enables them to maintain employment, provide for their families and continue to be productive members of society while satisfying their sentence. Offenders are prudently screened and only those with nonviolent, minor offenses are admitted into the program. Participants are required to follow all rules and regulations or face having their SLAP sentence revoked. At that time, they may be required to serve the remainder of their sentence in jail. SLAP participants provide non-skilled manual labor to nonprofit public and private agencies at no cost. Many organizations within Sussex County use the program regularly. SLAP participants are supervised by armed Officers at all times and are never left at jobs sites without supervision. Work that cannot be done by SLAP participants: SLAP does not work at private companies, personal homes or areas that are deemed unsafe by Sheriff's Office personnel. SLAP participants are not allowed to operate power tools such as chain saws and riding lawnmowers. Participants are not allowed to climb ladders that are over 10 feet off the ground. Participants cannot enter rivers, lakes or other bodies of water. Participants cannot remove poison ivy, oak, sumac, etc. Nonprofit Sussex County agencies seeking to enlist SLAP participants for a specified project must submit all requests in writing on organization letterhead. The request should detail the work that you would like done, where it is located and who the contact person is. Written requests should be sent to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office at 39 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860. All jobs must be checked prior to starting; a representative from the SLAP program will check the job site prior to beginning a project. You will also be required to fill out a work request form stating the type of services requested, that form will be provided by the Officer who will contact you for final approval. Please note the following: SLAP does not dispose of garbage collected; it is the requesting agency’s responsibility to arrange for pickup. All equipment that is needed for a job has to be provided by the requesting agency (i.e., rakes, shovels, push mowers, garbage bags etc.). For further information about SLAP, contact Corporal James Aumick or Corporal Brian Snyder at 973-579-0875 ext. 2307

K-9 team graduates from the Bergen County Police Academy K-9 Patrol class. < Back K-9 team graduates training academy K-9 team graduates from the Bergen County Police Academy K-9 Patrol class. Previous Next On January 28, 2011, the team of K-9 Atlas and Sheriff’s Officer Kieran McMorrow completed an extensive four month training program comprised of instruction in canine obedience, human tracking, handler protection, and criminal apprehension. Additionally, K-9 Atlas is cross trained as a narcotics detection canine. Sheriff Michael F. Strada recognizes the value of trained K-9 teams as a tool for effective law enforcement and is pleased to offer the services of K-9 Atlas and Sheriff’s Officer McMorrow to the municipal law enforcement agencies of Sussex County. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office currently has three K-9 teams, offering specialized services in narcotics detection, explosives detection, and search and rescue.

Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada and Sussex County Communications Director Mark Rozek announce the promotion of Shannon Quinn and Brian Cannon to the position of Supervising Public Safety Telecommunicator < Back Promotions to Supervising Public Safety Telecommunicators Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada and Sussex County Communications Director Mark Rozek announce the promotion of Shannon Quinn and Brian Cannon to the position of Supervising Public Safety Telecommunicator Previous Next A brief ceremony was held on July 26th that was attended by close family and co-workers. Shannon Quinn has been a PST with the Sussex County Communications Center since February 3, 2016. She was promoted to Senior PST on June 15, 2020. She is an APCO Certified Training Officer (CTO), APCO certified Communications Center Supervisor (CCS) and recently completed Spillman Application Administrator (SAA) training. Shannon has an Associate’s Degree from Sussex County Community College and has also completed a Crisis Management course and several ICS courses. Shannon has received 8 CPR Lifesaving awards since 2018. Brian Cannon has been a PST with the Sussex County Communications Center since July 16, 2015. He was promoted to Senior PST on June 15, 2020. He is an APCO Certified Training Officer (CTO), APCO certified Communications Center Supervisor (CCS) and an experienced Spillman Application Administrator (SAA) and is knowledgeable in the county’s GIS system. Brian has a Bachelor’s of Art in Emergency and Disaster Management from the American Military University and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He is also a CPR Instructor and has completed several ICS courses. Brian has received 5 CPR Lifesaving awards since 2018. Sheriff Strada states “Telecommunicators are the first ones to receive emergency calls and often times save lives over the phone by giving medical direction to those in need. They all do a terrific job, often times handling extremely stressful emergency calls while remaining calm and professional to ensure the proper resources are sent to those in need. Brian and Shannon bring experience, dedication, and commitment to the organization and are well deserving of this promotion.” Photo: Left to Right – Sheriff Michael F. Strada, Supervising PST Brian Cannon, Supervising PST Shannon Quinn & Director Mark Rozek

Arrested: Joseph S. Selobyt Jr, age 44, of Branchville, NJ. < Back Drunk driver leaves scene of accident, breaks down Arrested: Joseph S. Selobyt Jr, age 44, of Branchville, NJ. Previous Next On Thursday, August 29, 2013, Sergeant John Gray observed a severely damaged vehicle which had broken down in the roadway of CR 633 in Hampton Township. Upon speaking with the driver of the vehicle, Joseph S. Selobyt, and then observing him attempt to perform several sobriety tests, Sgt. Gray determined him to be impaired. Further investigation revealed a trail of fluids and vehicular debris which led to the site of a motor vehicle accident on CR 617 in Stillwater Township which Selobyt had fled from before breaking down. Selobyt was arrested and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. He was charged with the following offenses: reckless driving, driving while suspended, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, failure to report a motor vehicle accident and driving while intoxicated. Selobyt was given a future court date to appear in Wantage-Sussex-Stillwater Joint Municipal Court and released to the care of a responsible person. Sheriff’s Officers Samantha Schilling and Johnny Swords assisted in the arrest.

Pardon our appearance… < Back SCSO participates in No-Shave November Pardon our appearance… Previous Next The men and women of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement will be participating in a month-long charity fundraiser in conjunction with No-Shave November , a web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research and education. To participate in No-Shave November, Sheriff Michael F. Strada has approved the temporary relaxing of our grooming standards for the bureau during the month of November. According to their website, the goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow; then donating the money typically spent on shaving and grooming to fund education about cancer prevention, saving lives and aiding those who are fighting the disease. Each day, 22,000 people die from cancer worldwide. Nearly half of cancer diagnoses and deaths are preventable. No-Shave November’s mission is to not only raise funds for cancer research and treatment but to educate the population about preventative measures. For over six years, participants around the globe have put down their razors and foregone their hair appointments to join the fight against cancer. The No-Shave November campaign has successfully raised over $3.5 million dollars to combat this disease. Members of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement who have donated to No-Shave November and volunteered to grow their facial hair will do so all month long. If you would like to sponsor one of our officers or make a donation yourself, please visit our fundraising page .

The deputy emergency management coordinator attended FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. < Back Corporal Mark Vogel graduates FEMA Executive Academy The deputy emergency management coordinator attended FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. Previous Next Corporal Mark Vogel, CEM , the deputy emergency management coordinator for the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, recently graduated from FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. Corporal Vogel, who has served as deputy emergency management coordinator for the past fifteen years, completed the full curriculum that supports the advancement of the emergency management profession at strategic policy and executive leadership levels. This program has enhanced his talents in emergency management through critical thinking, visionary strategic planning, negotiation, and conflict resolution applied to complex real-world problems. Corporal Vogel completed the four resident courses in the Executive Academy to include: E0680 Examining Emergency Management Policy and Doctrine; E0682 Leading Complex Systems; E0684 Interpreting the Contemporary Emergency Management Environment; E0686 Creating the Emergency Management Stakeholder Community; and a collaborative capstone project. The Executive Academy instills emergency management leaders with a deeper understanding of contemporary and emerging emergency management issues, debates and public policy. It provides insights, theories, tools and resources that enable decision-makers to think and act more strategically and to build capacity to protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all types of disasters. Sheriff Strada, stating that Corporal Vogel’s training will continue to enhance the operations of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Division of Emergency Management, commends Corporal Vogel for graduating from this prestigious program. Corporal Mark Vogel (right) is congratulated by FEMA’s Dr. Daniel Kaniewski as he graduates. Photo by Shane Gibbon/FEMA.

Lake Hopatcong Hit and Run Information Needed < Back Sussex County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers Lake Hopatcong Hit and Run Information Needed Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada announces that Crimestoppers and the Hopatcong Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the operator of a boat involved in a hit and run accident, which resulted in injuries, along with the suspect boat. On July 11th at approximately 9:40 p.m., while on Lake Hopatcong, the operator of the suspect boat struck the rear of a pontoon boat causing extensive damage, and then fled the scene. The crash happened near the River Styx Cove / Elba Point section of the lake. The suspect boat was last seen heading toward the direction of Halsey Island. The suspect boat was described as a white 20—foot speedboat with damage to the bow. type of boat that was involved in the accident Information or tips can be directed to Crimestoppers by calling 973-300-CRIME or our website here , the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau at 973-663-3400 or the Hopatcong PD at 973-398-5000. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers organization will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminals. At no time will anyone ask the tipsters name.

Sussex County Sheriff’s Office receives a demonstration on the use of LifeVac in the use of choking emergencies from a local Sussex County family < Back Sussex County Sheriff’s Office receives a demonstration on the use of LifeVac Sussex County Sheriff’s Office receives a demonstration on the use of LifeVac in the use of choking emergencies from a local Sussex County family Previous Next The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office had the privilege of meeting with the parents of 4-month-old Maverick Scott Chambers who tragically passed away from a choking accident. Kim and Darrin Chambers have formed a non profit called “Maverick’s Legacy” in memory of their son. The Chambers Family has made it their mission to speak with the public, including first responders, on the benefits of the use of LifeVac, a device used to effectively clear the airway of a choking victim. Thank you to the Chamber’s Family for donating several devices to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, please contact www.maverickslegacy.org or email info@maverickslegacy.org

< Back SCSO K9 TEAM GRADUATES NJSP ACADEMY Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the graduation of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office’s newest K-9 Team from the New Jersey State Police Canine Academy 38th Narcotics Scent Class. Sheriff’s Detective Michael Scott and K-9 “Ace” recently successfully completed an intensive 14-week training course in narcotics detection. Detective Scott is a 7 year veteran of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Ace is a 1 year old German Shepherd Dog. During their training, over approximately 450 hours, the K-9 team executed over 300 narcotics searches in various conditions and at numerous locations. Detective Scott and K-9 Ace are scheduled to begin the New Jersey State Police Canine Academy Patrol Class for tracking in September. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit currently consists of three K-9 teams. Two narcotics detection teams and one tracking/trailing team. Sheriff Strada congratulates Detective Scott and Ace and wishes them great success in their careers. Said Sheriff Strada, “We are pleased to present the services of this great team and our other K-9 teams to the law enforcement agencies and citizens of Sussex County. I know they will prove to be a tremendous asset.”

Officers and nurses act quickly to help inmate in cardiac distress. < Back Corrections personnel honored for saving inmate’s life Officers and nurses act quickly to help inmate in cardiac distress. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada recently recognized and awarded several members of the Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections with honors for their respective roles in saving the life of an inmate during a medical emergency. On the evening of May 8, 2015, corrections officers Brandon Fazio and Jeffrey Hilbert observed a prisoner who had collapsed and was unresponsive. They immediately contacted medical staff and ordered all inmates back to their cells. Sergeants Paul Reiher and Eric Groeger responded to their location along with nurses Jean Thompson and Cathy Toth. After determining the patient was in cardiac distress, Thompson and Toth began CPR. Corrections Officer Fazio and Sergeant Reiher began to prepare an Automated External Defibrillation device (AED) for use and, in conjunction with the medical staff performing CPR, delivered several rounds of defibrillation to the patient. The patient was ultimately airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he was placed on life support. For their actions in preserving the inmate’s life, Corrections Officer Brandon Fazio, Sergeant Paul Reiher, licensed practical nurse Jean Thompson and registered nurse Cathy Toth were presented with the Sheriff’s Life Saving Award while Sergeant Eric Groeger, Corrections Officer Jeffrey Hilbert and Corrections Officer Michael Scuzzese were presented with the Honorable Service Award. Sheriff Strada thanks each of the above named personnel for their diligence, initiative and rapid action while in the line of duty. Their successful efforts to save a person’s life reflect great credit upon themselves and the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections as a whole. From left to right: Corrections Officer Brandon Fazio, Sergeant Paul Reiher, Sheriff Michael F. Strada, LPN Jean Thompson and RN Cathy Toth.