Arrested: Cheryl E. Semiz, age 19, of Hopatcong, NJ. < Back Hopatcong woman arrested for faking urine test Arrested: Cheryl E. Semiz, age 19, of Hopatcong, NJ. Previous Next On Monday, May 21, 2012, Sheriff’s Officer Matt Maines was advised by probation officers that a female probationer had attempted to fake a urine test after reporting for probation. Sheriff’s Officer Maines located Ms. Cheryl Semiz in the Sussex County Probation Department and, after a brief investigation, arrested her and transported her to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Semiz was charged with defrauding the administration of a court ordered drug test. She was issued a summons to appear at a future date in Newton Municipal Court and released.

He graduated from the FBI National Academy Program’s 260th session held in Quantico, Virginia. < Back Sheriff Strada graduates FBI program He graduated from the FBI National Academy Program’s 260th session held in Quantico, Virginia. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada has graduated from the FBI National Academy Program’s 260th session held in Quantico, Virginia. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the FBI’s ten week program is a professional development course for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. In attendance at the 260th session were leaders from 47 states, military organizations and federal civilian organizations with 22 of the students from 20 foreign countries. Its mission is “to support, promote and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.” Less than 1 percent of law enforcement executives in the country ever receive the opportunity to attend the FBI National Academy. As a leader with a proven record as a professional within the law enforcement community, Sheriff Strada considers it an honor and a privilege to have been chosen to attend.

Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the following hiring within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. < Back Sheriff's Office New Hire Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the following hiring within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the following hiring within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. At a ceremony held at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office earlier this week, Sheriff Michael F. Strada administered the Oath of Office to our newest employee, Sheriff’s Investigator Thomas Maroney. A 2009 graduate of Vernon Township High School, Investigator Maroney actually began his career with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Corrections back in 2016. Following the closure of the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in 2019, he accepted a position as a Corrections Officer with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office before ultimately returning to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement as a Sheriff’s Investigator. Investigator Maroney holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Sussex County Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Centenary College. During his college career, he made Dean’s List every semester in both schools. President of the Criminal Justice Club during his time at SCCC, Investigator Maroney was also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. A graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy’s Basic Corrections and Modified Basic Police Classes. While a recruit in the Police Academy, Investigator Maroney won the Emergency Vehicle Operator’s Course (EVOC) Driving Award. Following his swearing-in, Sheriff Strada congratulated Investigator Maroney and wished him the best of luck. pictured left to right – Investigator Maroney and Sheriff Michael Strada

Arrested: Brian L. Dippel, age 20, of Sparta Township, NJ. < Back Man arrested at courthouse for attempting to fake drug test Arrested: Brian L. Dippel, age 20, of Sparta Township, NJ. Previous Next On Tuesday, October 4, 2011, Brian Dipple was arrested by Sheriff’s Officer Ed Galinski after allegedly attempting to defraud the administration of a court ordered drug test. Sheriff’s Officer Galinski immediately took Dippel into custody. Sheriff’s Sergeant Krista Galante and Sheriff’s Officer Lou Cataldo assisted in the arrest. Dippel was charged with attempting to defraud the administration of a drug test and lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail.

Sheriff Strada announces promotions < Back Sheriff Strada announces three promotions Sheriff Strada announces promotions Previous Next Press Release Contact: Sheriff Michael F. Strada February 1, 2024 973-579-0850 Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the following promotions within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Kieran McMorrow has been promoted to Lieutenant. A 1992 graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School, a United States Army veteran, and a 24-year veteran of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Lieutenant McMorrow began his law enforcement career in 2000 when he was hired as a Corrections Officer by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections. That same year, he transferred to a position as a Sheriff’s Officer in the Bureau of Law Enforcement. Throughout his career, Lieutenant McMorrow has been assigned to several different units including, The Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transportation Unit, the Sheriff’s Traffic Unit, the Sussex County Hazardous Materials Team (HAZMAT), the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit. Lieutenant McMorrow has received numerous awards throughout his career. Lieutenant McMorrow holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He currently serves as a supervisor for the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit as well as the Public Information Officer of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Following this promotion, Lieutenant McMorrow will be assigned to oversee the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transportation Unit. Corporal Joseph Cahill has been promoted to Sergeant. A 1999 Wallkill Valley Regional High School graduate and a United States Army veteran who deployed in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Cahill began his law enforcement career in 2005 when he was hired as a Federal Corrections Officer by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In 2007, he accepted a position as a Sheriff’s Officer in the Bureau of Law Enforcement and was assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transportation Unit. A certified Field Training Officer (FTO), throughout his career, Sergeant Cahill has served in several units including the Detective Bureau, the Home Detention Program, and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Sergeant Cahill holds Associate’s degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Sussex County Community College. Following his promotion, Sergeant Cahill will be assigned to supervise Sheriff’s Officers assigned to the Courthouse Security & Prisoner Transport Unit. Sergeant Bennett Milnor has been promoted to Lieutenant in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections. A lifelong Sussex County resident and a 2001 graduate of Lenape Valley Regional High School, Lieutenant Milnor was hired as a Corrections Officer in May of 2003. In January of 2010, he was assigned as the Sheriff’s Work Assistance Program (SWAP) coordinator where he oversaw the inmate labor program. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December of 2011 and has been a shift supervisor since. In addition to his daily duties, he was responsible for overseeing inmate disciplinary hearings from 2017 through 2019 as well as maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan for the Bureau of Corrections. In July of 2023, he was reassigned to oversee the daily operations of the Bureau of Corrections which include inmate transports from police agencies statewide to the Morris County Jail as well as inmate hospital transports. Sheriff Strada stated “I am proud of these Officers and I congratulate them on their achievements. I have the utmost confidence in their leadership abilities and look forward to working with them.” Left to Right Lieutenant Bennett Milnor, Lieutenant Kieran McMorrow, Sheriff Michael Strada and Sergeant Joseph Cahill

< Back Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K9 Nutmeg and Detective Young attend the National Police Bloodhound Association Seminar and receive certification Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce that during the last week of April 2021, K9 Nutmeg and her handler Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Detective Cathy Young attended the National Police Bloodhound Association's Spring Seminar in McHenry, Maryland. This 40 hour block of instruction included one day of classroom refresher courses for the handler and 4 days of paws-on-the-pavement trailing work for the K9s. With the help and oversight of the expert NPBA instructors, K9 teams were tested on a variety of different surfaces, terrains, and aged trails. K9 Nutmeg approached her training with her best paw forward, making easy work of a 24+ hour-old trail and even running the entirety of an over 1-mile long trail. With her hard work and endless drive, K9 Nutmeg made it smooth sailing to achieving her 2nd national man-trailing certification. Sheriff Strada said, “K9 Nutmeg and Detective Young continue to be an asset to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. I couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and continued success, both with their training and their work in the field here in Sussex County.”

Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to welcome the following new personnel to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office < Back Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to welcome the following new personnel to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to welcome the following new personnel to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to welcome the following new personnel to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Officer Mark DiGeronimo Sheriff’s Officer Nicholas Galvao Sheriff’s Officer Anthony Reed Sheriff’s Investigator Zachary DiGeronimo Sheriff’s Investigator Brittany Macko Of the five new personnel, three have already attended the police academy and are currently working for the Bureau of Law Enforcement. The remaining two will begin their academy training soon. Pictured (L-R) Sheriff's Investigator Zachary Di Geronimo, Sheriff's Officer Mark DiGeronimo, Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada, Sheriff's Officer Nicholas Galvao, Sheriff's Investigator Brittany Macko, and Sheriff's Officer Anthony Reed. Sheriff Strada welcomes the new personnel and wishes them success in their careers.

Arrested: Owen R. Cox, age 24, of Andover Boro, NJ. < Back Whoops...burglary suspect leaves driver's license behind Arrested: Owen R. Cox, age 24, of Andover Boro, NJ. Previous Next The sheriff’s office assisted the Andover Township Police Department with the arrest of Owen R. Cox who was initially arrested by police during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 1, 2011 and charged with burglary and assault. Cox had originally fled the scene of that crime before being apprehended at another location within Andover Township. On October 6, 2011, Sheriff’s Officer Warren Slahor and K-9 Eggo assisted Andover Township police who had requested a K-9 team to conduct an area search for evidence that may have been discarded by Cox while fleeing from police. The officer and his K-9 searched a swampy wooded area that Cox was believed to have travelled through after fleeing the scene and discovered a pair of discarded sweat pants. Inside the pants pocket, sheriff’s officers located a New Jersey driver’s license issued to Cox. Cox has been charged with burglary, simple assault and second degree robbery with bodily injury. He is currently lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000 bail with no 10% option.

Arrested: Quintia Dessau, age 29, formerly of Dorchester, MA. < Back Sheriff’s officers arrest woman at state fair Arrested: Quintia Dessau, age 29, formerly of Dorchester, MA. Previous Next On Saturday, August 3, 2013, while assigned to traffic control during the NJ State Fair, sheriff’s officers Warren Slahor, Lew Labar and Lieutenant Lawrence Beller encountered Quintia Dessau. Further investigation revealed Dessau to be the subject of several outstanding municipal warrants from Elizabeth, Fort Lee, Linden and Atlantic City municipal courts. Dessau was immediately arrested and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. She was ultimately turned over to the custody of the Elizabeth Police Department for transport to the Essex County Jail where she was subsequently lodged in lieu of $14,075 bail.

Sheriff Strada runs down a list of resources available to provide assistance. < Back Resources for homeowners facing foreclosure Sheriff Strada runs down a list of resources available to provide assistance. Previous Next If you are a homeowner experiencing difficulty making your mortgage payments or you are already facing foreclosure, you are not alone. Help is available but you can’t procrastinate or hope the problem will just go away. The further behind you get, the fewer options you may have to save your home or avoid foreclosure. The links which follow can provide assistance to homeowners in distress. New Jersey’s Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Program The Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program (ERMA) was developed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to deploy federally allocated HAF funds to assist eligible NJ homeowners who have been financially affected by COVID-19. The program will help homeowners bring their mortgages and other housing related expenses current. New Jersey Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program This program, launched in 2009, gives eligible homeowners access to housing counselors, lawyers and mediators who may help homeowners in foreclosure remain in their homes. It is a partnership of the judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General, the Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Legal Services of New Jersey, the Office of the Public Advocate and the Department of Banking and Insurance. Call toll-free: 1.888.989.5277. Making Home Affordable This program is a component of the Obama administration’s strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stabilize the country’s housing market, and improve the nation’s economy. The primary goal is to give homeowners struggling to maintain their home mortgage payments the opportunity to refinance or obtain a loan modification. NJ HomeSaver Program This program provides financial assistance to New Jersey homeowners who have a track record of making their mortgage payments on time but are now at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure as a direct result of unemployment or substantial underemployment. Additional Resources: Loan Scam Alert—What You Should Know Loan Modification Scam Alert Campaign Consumer Alert: Home Mortgage Foreclosures/Subprime Lending Legal Services of New Jersey: Anti-Predatory Lending Project Ten Warning Signs of Abusive/Predatory Lending For Tenants: NJ’s Public Advocate: The Rights of Tenants During Foreclosure

< Back Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Hires Five New Officers Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the hiring of five new Sheriff’s Officers in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement. At a ceremony held at the Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Center earlier this week, Sheriff Strada administered the Oath of Office to the following new Sheriff’s Officers. Brian Gallagher A lifelong resident of Sussex County and a 2011 graduate of Wallkill Valley Regional High School, Sheriff’s Officer Gallagher attended both Sussex County Community College and Stockton University where he majored in Criminal Justice. An eight year veteran of the New Jersey Army National Guard where he continues to serve as a Combat Engineer, Officer Gallagher is also a graduate of the 96th Morris County Police Academy Basic Police Class and holds a Baccalaureate degree from Stockton University in Criminal Justice. Following a brief period of field training instruction, Officer Gallagher will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Jesse Bambrick A 2008 graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School, Sheriff’s Officer Bambrick holds an Associates of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Sussex County Community College where he graduated from in 2011. A nine year veteran of the New Jersey Army National Guard where he continues to serve as a team leader of an Infantry Squad, Officer Bambrick is also a graduate of the 96th Morris County Police Academy Basic Police Class. While attending the Police Academy, Officer Bambrick placed 2nd in Marksmanship amongst his fellow recruits. Following a brief period of field training instruction, Officer Bambrick will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Khanai Powell A lifelong resident of Sussex County and a 2014 graduate of the Sussex County Technical School, Sheriff’s Officer Powell attended Montclair University where he studied with a major concentration in Psychology and a minor concentration in Criminal Justice, ultimately earning a Baccalaureate Degree. A New Jersey Army National Guard veteran, Office Powell is also a graduate of the 96th Morris County Police Academy Basic Police Class. While attending the Police Academy, Officer Powell received the Physical Training Award for demonstrating athletic excellence amongst his peers. Following a brief period of field training instruction, Officer Powell will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Mark Bollmann A 2012 graduate of the Sussex County Technical School, Sheriff’s Officer Bollmann also studied at Sussex County Community College. A nine year veteran of the New Jersey Army National Guard where he continues to serve as a Combat Engineer, Officer Bollmann is also a graduate of the 96th Morris County Police Academy Basic Police Class. Following a brief period of field training instruction, Officer Bollmann will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Justin Bellis A lifelong resident of Sussex County and a 2011 graduate of High Point Regional High School, Sheriff’s Officer Bellis also studied at Sussex County Community College. A 10 year veteran of the Frankford Township Volunteer Fire Department where he continues to serve as a Firefighter, Officer Bellis has also previously served as a 911 Operator and Emergency Dispatcher in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. Officer Bellis is also a graduate of the 96th Morris County Police Academy Basic Police Class. Following a brief period of field training instruction, Officer Bellis will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Prisoner Transport Unit. Immediately following swearing in the new hires, Sheriff Strada congratulated each of them, welcomed them all to the agency, and wished them success in their careers. Pictured left to right: Sheriff’s Officer Powell, Sheriff’s Officer Bellis, Sheriff Strada, Sheriff’s Officer Bambrick, Sheriff’s Officer Bollmann, Sheriff’s Officer Gallagher

Sheriff Strada was a guest speaker at the Sparta Woman’s Club luncheon. < Back Sparta Woman’s Club hosts Sheriff Strada Sheriff Strada was a guest speaker at the Sparta Woman’s Club luncheon. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada was a guest speaker at the Sparta Woman’s Club luncheon held recently at the Lake Mohawk Country Club in Sparta. Sheriff Strada was invited to share a presentation on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office with the audience of fifty members. During the presentation, he spoke about the history of the sheriff’s office, the Bureau of Law Enforcement/Corrections Unit, the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP)/Sheriff’s Work Assistance Program (SWAP), Emergency Management/Fire Marshal responsibilities along with the many community programs that are in place such as Crime Stoppers, Project Lifesaver, Outbound 9-1-1, Register Ready, D.A.R.E., TRIAD and CERT programs. The presentation, designed to educate the public about the many services that the sheriff’s office provides to the citizens of Sussex County, was followed by a question and answer session. Sheriff Strada would like to encourage any organization which is interested in learning more about the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office to contact it at 973.579.0850. Pictured from left to right: Marjorie Strohsahl, Corresponding Secretary/FWCNJ Past President, Sheriff Michael F. Strada and Stevie Fava, Co-President.