< Back Crime Stoppers 5K/12K race results Join the race against crime on September 14, 2019 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Previous Next Participants raced against crime at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 14, 2019. View the race results Thank you to our sponsors and all who took part in this great event. See you next year!

< Back Sheriff Strada presents awards to officers Four members of the sheriff’s office were recently recognized for their service. 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 service. Corrections Officer William Martin was presented with the Sheriff’s Meritorious Service Award for his actions in rendering medical aid to the victims of a motor vehicle accident he witnessed while off duty. The Sheriff’s Meritorious Service Award is awarded to officers who have performed a highly unusual accomplishment under adverse conditions with some degree of hazard to life and limb. On January 8, 2013, Officer Martin’s father, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) William Martin, Sr. who was a member of the Stillwater Emergency Rescue Squad, was operating an ambulance in Stillwater Township, transporting a severely burned patient to a medical evacuation area to be airlifted. While driving, Mr. Martin suffered a sudden and massive heart attack. Realizing he was having some sort of coronary incident, EMT Martin quickly told the paramedics in the rear of the vehicle to “hold on” and attempted to pull off the road. He was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, however, and subsequently crashed into a pole resulting in downed electrical wires hanging over the ambulance. Officer Martin, who was coincidentally nearby at the time of the accident, heard the sound of the collision and ran to the crash site to render aid, unaware that one of the victims was his father. Upon arrival, he assessed the scene and, disregarding his personal safety, entered the ambulance to determine the level of injury of those inside. It was at that point that Officer Martin realized who the driver was. Upon verifying that the paramedics in the rear of the vehicle were not seriously injured, Officer Martin assisted in removing his father from the wrecked vehicle. After checking his pulse and determining him to be unresponsive, Officer Martin then performed CPR on EMT Martin in the roadway until he was relieved. EMT Martin was transported to Newton Medical Center with CPR in progress. Unfortunately, despite Officer Martin’s valiant efforts, EMT Martin did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Officer William Martin has served in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections since January 2013. Corrections Officer Jeremy Locke was presented with the Sheriff’s Meritorious Service Award for his actions in restraining a resistant and extremely violent inmate. On June 23, 2013 Officer Locke was escorting an unruly prisoner back to his cell. Upon arriving at the cell, the inmate refused to enter and struck Officer Locke near his right eye also causing injury to his nose. Officer Locke was knocked down and his vision momentarily impaired. Officer Locke sustained several facial fractures, severe bleeding from his nose, and serious damage to the bones surrounding his eye. Despite these injuries, Officer Locke immediately got back up and assisted another officer in restraining the inmate before he could cause additional harm to others. Officer Jeremy Locke has served in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections since February 2008. Sergeant James Milnor , Corrections Officer Kyle Keller and Corrections Officer William Martin were each presented with the Sheriff’s Honorable Service Award for their actions in thwarting an inmate from attempting suicide. The Sheriff’s Honorable Service Award is awarded to a member of the Sheriff’s Office who performs a creditable act in the line of duty which meets some, but not all the requirements for other medals, unusual in nature, showing initiative and accomplishment. On May 4, 2013, Corrections Officer Keller responded to a request for assistance for an inmate attempting suicide. Upon arrival, Officer Keller observed one of the inmates attempting to hang himself with a noose fashioned from a bedsheet. Officer Keller entered the inmate’s cell and immediately lifted him up off the ground to release the tension and prevent further strangulation. Shortly thereafter, Officer Martin arrived and assisted Keller in lifting the inmate while Sergeant Milnor cut the noose. The inmate was then medically evaluated, placed on a suicide watch and transferred to another area of the facility. The actions of Sergeant Milnor, Officer Keller and Officer Martin unquestionably prevented the inmate from successfully taking his own life. Sergeant James Milnor has served in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections since May 2003. Officer Kyle Keller has served in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections since May 2010. Sheriff Strada congratulates each of these officers, thanks them for their service, and wishes them continued success in their careers.

< Back Sheriff Strada announces promotions Four staff members from the Bureau of Corrections were recently promoted. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the following promotions within the Bureau of Corrections: Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant Chris Lynch has been promoted to interim lieutenant. A 12-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Lt. Lynch began his law enforcement career as a corrections officer at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in 1999. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and was assigned to supervise the 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. shift before being transferred to oversee the Records and Classification sections. Lt. Lynch is graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy Basic Corrections Class and holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Sussex County Community College. Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Kelly Mizerek has been promoted to sergeant. A 10-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Sgt. Mizerek began her career as a corrections officer at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in 2001. Sgt. Mizerek is a graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy Basic Corrections Class and holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the County College of Morris. She is currently assigned to supervise the 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Bennett Milnor has been promoted to sergeant. An 8-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Sgt. Milnor began his career as a corrections officer at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in 2003. Since 2009, Sgt. Milnor has been supervised the work activities of inmates assigned to the Sheriff’s Work Assistance Program (SWAP) . Sgt. Milnor attended the Passaic County Police Academy Basic Corrections Class where he graduated in the top five of his class overall. He is currently assigned to supervise the 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Andrew Boden has been promoted to interim sergeant. A 14-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Sgt. Boden began his career as a corrections officer at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in 1998. He is a former member of both the Sheriff’s Operations Group and the Sussex County Hazardous Materials Team (HAZMAT). Sgt. Boden, a certified hazardous materials technician, was deployed to Louisiana in 2005 as part of Operation LEAD (Louisiana Emergency Assistance Deployment), New Jersey’s statewide response to assist in the clean up of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Sgt. Boden is a graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy Basic Corrections Class. He is currently assigned to supervise the 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. shift. Sheriff Strada congratulates each of the recently promoted personnel and wishes them all continued success in their careers.

< Back Sheriff's office participates in statewide nonsupport sweep The sweep, carried out in all 21 New Jersey counties, tracks down parents with outstanding warrants for failure to pay child support. Previous Next The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office’s participated in the New Jersey Statewide Nonsupport Warrant Sweep. The sweep targets noncustodial parents who are seriously delinquent in making child support payments. It is a cooperative effort of sheriff’s offices in all twenty-one counties, the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Division of Family Development and the New Jersey Office of Child Support Services. According to Sussex County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kieran McMorrow, the operation, carried out today by sheriff’s officers armed with arrest warrants, began in the early morning hours and resulted in the apprehension and arrest of seven individuals who failed to pay their court ordered child support. Additionally, two individuals surrendered themselves directly to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Those arrested in the sweep were processed and lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. In order to be released, a delinquent parent must pay all the monies owed. If unable to make full payment, a court appearance will be scheduled and at that time, a Superior Court judge will determine, on a case-by-case basis, the amount that must be paid in order to gain release. Sheriff Strada, noting that the sweep will continue through Thursday, advises that Sussex County residents with an active warrant for nonsupport may want to contact his office to make arrangements for surrender to avoid being rousted by sheriff’s officers. Know the whereabouts of someone for whom an arrest warrant has been issued for nonsupport? Members of the public can use this web site to submit an anonymous tip. Simply navigate to our wanted section, take a look at the gallery of wanted individuals and if you spot someone you can help us out with, click on the envelope icon to the far right of the wanted person’s name to access and submit our tip submission form.

< Back Upcoming sheriff’s sale of assets Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell Previous Next Docket #FM 19-39-05 Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell On Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., the following asset will be sold at a public sale on the premises of AA-1 Storage located at 155 Brooks Flat Road, Ogdensburg, NJ: One 2006 Caterpillar 303.5 Excavator, Vin #VDMY00785 This sale was previously scheduled to take place March 12 and then March 15, 2013. All items are sold in an ‘as is’ condition. Purchaser must pay purchase price at the time of sale in cash or certified check made payable to the Sussex County Sheriff and remove the items following the sale. The sheriff reserves the right to adjourn these sales; the foregoing scheduled dates are subject to change. For more information. contact the Civil Process Unit at 973.579.0850.

< Back TRIAD law enforcement seminar to be held in October This seminar has been cancelled due to lower than usual attendance this year. Previous Next Cancelled due to lower than usual attendance this year. On Friday, October 14, 2016 , Sussex County TRIAD will be hosting a law enforcement seminar for seniors at Selective Insurance, 40 Wantage Avenue in the Borough of Branchville from 8 a.m. to 12:00 noon with a free continental breakfast included. The seminar will include classes on senior fraud education and protection, a demonstration by the Sussex County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit as well as other new, informative classes. Seniors will have the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement officers and county personnel to gather information on current crimes affecting seniors, facts to combat unwarranted fear of crime, problems faced by seniors and programs that are offered by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Hilary Manser at 973.579.0850, ext. 2114.

< Back Crime Stoppers 5K/10K Race Results View the race results. Previous Next Participants raced against crime at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 6, 2014. View the race results Thank you to our sponsors and all who took part in this great event. See you next year!

< 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.

< Back Sergeant Paul Reiher retires from Bureau of Corrections Sheriff Strada announces the retirement of the 23-year veteran. Previous Next Sheriff Strada announced the retirement of Sergeant Paul Reiher of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections last week. A 1980 graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School, Sgt. Reiher enlisted in the United States Army following graduation. During his 10 years of military service, he received three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Southwest Asia Service Ribbons with Bronze Stars, four overseas ribbons, the Air Assault Badge, and the National Defense Medal. Upon completing his enlistment in December of 1991, Sgt. Reiher left the Army and, shortly after, began his law enforcement career as a Sussex County corrections officer in 1993. A 23-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, throughout his career, Sgt. Reiher received numerous certifications from the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Sussex County Police Chiefs Association, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the State of New Jersey, the Passaic County Police Academy, Rutgers University, Sussex County Community College, the Morris County Police Academy and the NJ State Department of Corrections. In addition to receiving multiple letters of commendation during the course of his career, and the Sheriff’s Achievement Award in 2008, Sgt. Reiher was most recently presented with the Lifesaving Award in October 2015 for his actions during a medical emergency at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. Sgt. Reiher is a 1994 graduate of the 141st class of the New Jersey State Department of Corrections Corrections Officer Training Academy, the Passaic County Police Academy’s Supervision of Police Personnel Class, and the Police Supervision Training Program sponsored by Rutgers University. Sheriff Strada congratulates Sgt. Reiher on his retirement and wishes him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

< Back Thank You First Responders ​ Previous Next On behalf of the Sussex County Sheriff's Office and Office of Emergency Management, I would like to thank all of the First Responders who responded and assisted at the plane crash in Hampton Township. Starting with the New Jersey State Police, who with the assistance of their aviation unit, located the plane wreckage in a remote wooded area in Hampton Township. What followed was a large response from multiple agencies. These agencies included but were not limited to the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, Sussex County Sheriff Office of Emergency Management, Sussex County Fire Marshal Office, Sussex County Haz-Mat team, Hampton Township Fire Department, Stillwater Township Fire Department , Fredon Township Fire Department, Lafayette Fire Department, Ogdensburg Fire Department, Highland Lakes Fire Department, Frankford Fire Department and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. I would also like to recognize and thank the Sussex County Communications Center for ensuring that all the resources that we needed were dispatched to the accident site. Since the wreckage and the victims were located in a remote densely wooded area it made the recovery extremely difficult and challenging. Working in collaboration, the agencies were able to recover the victims and assist the NTSB with the recovery and removal of the aircraft from the woods. The First Responders, almost all of who are volunteers, spent close to 2 days assisting at the accident site. Although we all wish the outcome was better, these volunteers worked tirelessly to recover the victims and the aircraft. As the County Emergency Management Coordinator, it is comforting to know that the volunteers in Sussex County are ready and willing to respond to any emergency that we may face. I thank all of you for your assistance at the crash site and your continued hard work and dedication to your communities. Sincerely, Sheriff Michael Strada Sussex County Emergency Management Coordinator

< Back Drug money used to purchase new sheriff’s K-9 Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the arrival of K-9 Kilo. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the arrival of a new officer at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. This newest member of the sheriff’s office is not only capable of running at speeds upwards of 30 mph, he can scale a seven foot fence in seconds flat and smell drugs secreted in hidden compartments that would be otherwise impossible to detect. He does, however, shed a great deal more hair than a typical sheriff’s officer. K-9 Kilo is a black and tan colored, German shepherd dog. At just 17 months old, he is the youngest of the 4 dogs that currently comprise the sheriff’s office K-9 unit. Kilo was born in Hungary and transported to the United States by a canine vendor who, in turn, sold him to the sheriff’s office. Kilo was purchased using money from the asset forfeiture fund which is maintained by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. Sussex County Prosecutor David Weaver authorized the expenditure from the fund which is composed, almost exclusively, of money seized during narcotics investigations. The cost of purchasing Kilo was therefore borne, not from the taxpaying citizens of Sussex County, but from narcotics traffickers similar to those that Kilo will ultimately be trained to locate and apprehend. Both Sheriff Strada and Prosecutor Weaver reflected on the irony of obtaining a narcotics detection canine with funds taken predominantly from narcotics traffickers. In thanking Prosecutor Weaver for his assistance the sheriff noted, “This is a win-win for the citizens of Sussex County as well as the sheriff’s office. K-9 Kilo will be a valuable asset to law enforcement agencies throughout Sussex County while bringing no cost to the taxpayers.” “Having a canine trained in narcotics detection and patrol work duties is beneficial both as a tool for law enforcement and to the citizens of Sussex County,” said Prosecutor Weaver. Kilo will be trained in patrol work duties such as criminal apprehension, handler protection, evidence recovery, general obedience and human tracking. Additionally, he will be trained in narcotics detection. He is scheduled to begin training on June 1. From left to right: Sheriff Michael F. Strada, Detective Kieran McMorrow, K-9 Kilo and Sussex County Prosecutor David Weaver.

< Back Sheriff’s office arrests 31 in statewide nonsupport sweep The sweep, carried out in most New Jersey counties, tracks down parents with outstanding warrants for failure to pay child support. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada today announced his agency’s recent participation in the New Jersey Statewide Nonsupport Warrant Sweep. The sweep was sponsored by the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey and was conducted in full cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Family Development, the Office of Child Support Services and the probation divisions of each respective county in the state. Beginning in the early morning hours of Tuesday June, 18, 2013 and continuing through Thursday June 20, 2013, Sussex County sheriff’s officers—with arrest warrants issued by a Superior Court in New Jersey—arrested the following 26 individuals who failed to comply with court-ordered child support payments. An asterisk (*) next to a name denotes that individual has multiple non-support warrants for separate obligations. Defendant Age Residence Amount Owed Melanie Griffiths 36 Vernon $5,263.70 Sereca Thomas 29 Franklin $5,790.26 Jarred Bruce 32 Franklin $18,496.83 Alfred Davidson* 31 Sussex $22,213.28 Frank Mears 46 Newton $8,906.67 Robert Sipila 58 Vernon $3,200.00 Travis Kretzschmar 30 Vernon $3,904.00 Robert Farruggia 51 Netcong $54,043.88 Charles Heddy 41 Allamuchy $24,810.28 Thomas Scherzer 46 Roxbury $51,994.16 Roger Weaver* 45 Roxbury $161,080.58 Michael Burns 46 Sparta $4,124.91 Lisa Ayers 49 Newton $850.34 Vincent Scardino 43 Andover $6,706.76 Daryl Michael 42 Newton $4,311.12 Douglas Potente 27 Vernon $6,086.76 Scott Baker 44 Toms River $2,520.00 David Murphy 50 Branchville $57,347.80 Michael Krajci 43 Franklin $11,884.00 Kevin Smith 58 Sussex $3,364.28 Everett Scott 40 Branchville $649.00 Paula Babcock 52 Hamburg $3,218.17 Maria Brock 48 Vernon $13,796.27 Dustin Storm 39 Sandyston $4,708.74 Brett Hinchman 34 Pequannock $22,259.71 Shannon Cuthbert 26 Atlantic City $2,340.00 An additional five other individuals voluntarily surrendered themselves at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office during the sweep. In terms of overall collections gathered throughout New Jersey, Sussex County was third in the state. Of the 35 warrants served, a total of $33,756.71 was collected. All persons arrested in the sweep were processed and lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. Those incarcerated were given the opportunity to make a payment of the monies owed in order to be released. If unable to make full payment, they will be rescheduled for a court appearance before a Superior Court judge. At that time, the judge will make a determination regarding the amount of child support that must be paid on a case-by-case basis. Sheriff Strada advises Sussex County residents with an active warrant for nonsupport to be proactive and contact his office to make arrangements for surrender. Additionally, the sheriff asks any member of the public who can provide information that may lead to the arrest of someone who owes child support to contact the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers toll-free tip line at (888) 973-CRIME. Tips may also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers Online Anonymous Tip Form. Your information can greatly assist the sheriff’s office in enforcing outstanding warrants. If the information you provide leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.