Arrested: David M. Ireland, age 32, of Augusta, NJ. < Back Driver using cell phone leads to DWI arrest Arrested: David M. Ireland, age 32, of Augusta, NJ. Previous Next On Thursday, September 5, 2013, while assigned to patrol duties within the borough of Branchville, Sheriff’s Officer John Swords observed David Ireland talking on a cell phone while driving through Branchville. Officer Swords initiated a motor vehicle stop and interviewed Mr. Ireland. Upon further investigation, Officer Swords determined Ireland was intoxicated. Officer Swords arrested Ireland and transported him to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Ireland was charged with the following offenses: driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle while using a portable electronic device and possession of an open container/alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle. He was given a future court date to appear in Branchville Borough Municipal Court and released to the care of a responsible party. Sheriff’s Officer Samantha Schilling and Sergeant John Gray assisted in the arrest.

The monetary donation was used to purchase equipment for the program. < Back Project Lifesaver receives donation from Division of Senior Services The monetary donation was used to purchase equipment for the program. Previous Next Sheriff Strada recently accepted a donation on behalf of his office from the Sussex County Division of Senior Services. The monetary donation was used to purchase Project Lifesaver equipment, including a mobile locator tracking system. Project Lifesaver is an international program that assists sheriff’s personnel in locating individuals who have wandered away from home due to Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive disorders. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office has offered the Project Lifesaver program to county residents since 2005. Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around their wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies the sheriff’s office and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area to begin searching using a mobile locator tracking system. Most who wander are found within a few miles of their homes and search times for these individuals have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. The average recovery time to locate a Project Lifesaver client is 30 minutes—that’s 95% less time than standard recovery operations. The Sussex County Division of Senior Services is a county department mandated by the federal government as part of the Older Americans Act. It serves as a connection for the elderly to services and programs designed to support seniors’ independence and quality of life. The mission of the division is to enable older individuals and/or their caregivers to choose from a coordinated system of services that allows seniors to live as independently as possible in their homes and in their communities while enjoying a dignified quality of life. Sheriff Strada, expressing his gratitude for the donation, thanked Lorraine Hentz for her agency’s continued commitment to improving the quality of life for our county’s seniors. (L to R) Sgt. Krista Galante, Project Lifesaver Coordinator, Lorraine Hentz, Director of the Sussex County Division of Senior Services, and Sheriff Michael F. Strada display the equipment purchased with the donated funds.

Join the race against crime on September 15, 2018 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. < Back Crime Stoppers 5K/12K Run to be held September 15 Join the race against crime on September 15, 2018 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff’s Crime Stoppers 5K/12K Saturday, September 15, 2018 Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ Race Start Time: 9:30 a.m. Join hundreds of runner/walkers and supporters in the race against crime at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Pre-register by September 1 , and the fee is $25 for either the 5K Run/Walk or 12K Run. After September 1 through race day, the fee is $30 for either race. Goody bags will be provided to all 5K and 12K runners/walkers while supplies last. Awards will be given to the top three male and female winners overall, the top three teams and by age groups. Enjoy food, drinks and entertainment after the event. Race proceeds will benefit the Sussex County Sheriff’s Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit corporation funded by contributions from local businesses and citizens at no cost to the taxpayer. Individuals who have information relating to a crime or criminal activity in the Sussex County, New Jersey area can receive up to a $1,000.00 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminals. Tips may be submitted anonymously via the Crime Stoppers hotline at 973.300.CRIME or online anonymous tip form. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Thorlabs as well as our other participating sponsors. Have questions or need more information about the event? Contact Hilary Manser at 973.579.0850, ext. 2114.

Correctional Facility Overview The Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility opened in 1978. Inmate Visitation/Information Learn what is required in order to visit someone incarcerated. Also includes information about inmate mail, personal property, accounts and phone calls. Home Detention Program The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office offers an alternative to incarceration for certain offenders sentenced to a term of imprisonment. SLAP Sussex County’s SLAP program provides a structured alternative to incarceration for minor offenders. Directions/Map View a map and directions to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility, located directly behind the Sussex County Judicial Center, adjacent to the parking garage.

Join the race against crime on September 14, 2019 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. < 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!

Arrested: Tonja Stupke, age 47, of Saylorsburg, PA. < Back PA woman arrested for DWI in Frankford Township Arrested: Tonja Stupke, age 47, of Saylorsburg, PA. Previous Next On Monday, March 12, 2012, while assigned to community policing in Frankford Township, Sheriff’s Sergeant John Gray observed a motor vehicle being operated by Tonja Stupke traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. Sergeant Gray stopped the vehicle and, after observing Stupke attempt to perform several field sobriety tests, determined her to be intoxicated. Stupke was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. Additionally, she was issued summonses for reckless driving and speeding. She was given a date to appear in Frankford Township Municipal Court and released.

Arrested: Charity Thompson, age 20 and Kevin J. Curran Jr., age 47, both of Newton, NJ. < Back Sheriff’s detective and officer arrest two in Newton Arrested: Charity Thompson, age 20 and Kevin J. Curran Jr., age 47, both of Newton, NJ. Previous Next On Monday, July 29, 2013, while assigned to fugitive apprehension duties, Sheriff’s Detective William Lunger and Sheriff’s Officer Christopher Megna located Charity Thompson and Kevin J. Curran at separate locations within the town of Newton. Thompson and Curran were both the subjects of outstanding Superior Court warrants. Further investigation revealed Thompson was also the subject of an outstanding municipal warrant from Frankford Township Municipal Court. Both were taken into custody and transported to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility where they were lodged without incident. Charity Thompson remains lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,000 bail on the Superior Court warrant and $500 bail on the Frankford Township Municipal warrant. Kevin J. Curran Jr. was released on his own recognizance the following day after appearing before the Hon. N. Peter Conforti, JSC.

Three recruits successfully graduated from the Morris County Police Academy. < Back Bureau of Law Enforcement welcomes three new officers Three recruits successfully graduated from the Morris County Police Academy. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the recent graduation of three sheriff’s officers from the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy’s 90th Basic Police Class. Steven Sugar is a 2006 graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School, a 10-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard and a lifelong resident of Sussex County. Locally, Officer Sugar has served as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) for many years. He currently serves as fire captain of the Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company. Following a period of supervised field training, Officer Sugar will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Steven Kniedl is a 2006 graduate of the Sussex County Technical School and a United States Marine Corps veteran. Officer Kneidl also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University. While attending the police academy, Officer Kneidl was awarded the 200 Club of Morris County Leadership Award as well as the New Jersey Police Training Commission Merit Award. Following a period of supervised field training, Officer Kneidl will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Joseph Decker is a 2009 graduate of Newton High School, a United States Marine Corps veteran and a lifelong resident of Sussex County. Officer Decker is currently attending Sussex County Community College where he is pursuing an associate’s degree in criminal justice. Following a period of supervised field training, Officer Decker will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Recently, at a small ceremony held at the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Strada greeted the new officers and administered the oath of office to each of them. Sheriff Strada joins the rest of the Bureau of Law Enforcement in welcoming these three new officers to the sheriff’s office and wishing them success in their careers. Sheriff Michael F. Strada welcomes three new officers.

< Back PUBLIC NOTICE The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office is scheduled for an assessment as part of its program to achieve accreditation by verifying that it meets recognized professional best practices. Previous Next Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function. Agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 973-579-0850 ext. 2107 on Thursday, January 26, 2023 between the hours of 10:00AM and 11:00AM. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. Email comments can be sent to the Sheriff’s Office at at carnott@sussexcountysheriff.com . Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. Please contact Captain Clayton Arnott at 973-579-0850 ext. 2522 for more information. Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them by email to Harry J Delgado, Ed.S Accreditation Program Director, hdelgado@njsacop.org , or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

Employment/Recruitment The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office is a civil service employer and as such, is governed by the rules prescribed by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission (CSC). Job candidates are selected from eligibility lists that are supplied to us by the state. Qualified veterans are placed at the top of these eligibility lists ahead of non-veterans regardless of their scores. When a position becomes available, candidates from the list are contacted, background investigations are conducted, interviews take place and then selections are made. Selected candidates are then sent for a battery of pre-employment tests and evaluations to ascertain fitness for duty. Once a candidate makes it through that phase, he/she is scheduled to begin training. Training for corrections officers lasts 18 weeks; training for sheriff’s officers lasts 22 weeks. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals wishing to pursue a career with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office must obtain a Law Enforcement Exam (LEE) test application through the CSC. For specific information regarding eligibility requirements and testing, visit their web site .

Overview The Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility (KDCF) was opened in 1978. It was named in honor of Walter Keogh-Dwyer, a long-time Sussex County resident who served as a state assemblyman, freeholder and mayor of Vernon Township. The facility is used as the operations and command center for the Bureau of Corrections staff, who are responsible for supervising inmates during transports for admission to the Morris County Correctional Facility, court hearings and medical appointments. KDCF is a full-spectrum 24-hour operation professionally and efficiently operated by sworn corrections officers and administrative staff. The KDCF has consistently maintained compliance with the standards prescribed by the state for adult county correctional facilities.

Three corrections officers were recently promoted. < Back Bureau of Corrections promotes three officers Three corrections officers were recently promoted. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the promotions of three officers within the Bureau of Corrections. Corrections Officer James Aumick has been promoted to the rank of corporal. He is a 1998 graduate of Wallkill Valley Regional High School and lifelong resident of Sussex County. A 15-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Corporal Aumick began his law enforcement career in September 2002 when he was hired by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer. Corporal Aumick is a graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy Basic County Corrections Officer Training Class of 2003. A dedicated employee to the County of Sussex, Corporal Aumick has been assigned to the Sheriff’s SLAP/SWAP program for the past six years and is very well respected in our communities for his dedicated service to this program. Corporal Aumick has also been used and will continue to be used for many of our emergency operations here at the jail. He will remain assigned to the SLAP/SWAP Program. Corrections Officer Todd Blohm has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. Sergeant Blohm was hired in 2009 and attended Passaic County Police Academy. He is a member of the bureau’s Special Operations Group and actively assists with a variety of specialized tasks. Sergeant Blohm has been awarded the Meritorious Service Award, and was also named Employee of the Month in June of 2016. Sergeant Blohm’s professionalism, work ethic and leadership abilities are an asset to the department and we wish him the best of luck as he embarks on a new phase of his career. Corrections Officer Sean Long has been promoted to the rank of corporal. Corporal Long is a graduate of Port Jervis High School and also a graduate of Sussex County Community College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. A 15-year veteran of the Bureau of Corrections, Corporal Long began his law enforcement career in September 2002 when he was hired by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer. Corporal Long is a graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy Basic County Corrections Officer Training Class of 2004. Corporal Long has received numerous commendations throughout his career including one in 2011 where Corporal Long’s lifesaving skills contributed to an inmate surviving a suicide attempt. Corporal Long’s professional abilities and his attention to detail has resulted over the years in the numerous findings and prevention of contraband in our facility. Pictured from left to right: Corporal James Aumick, Sergeant Todd Blohm, Corporal Sean Long, Sheriff Michael F. Strada.