Parks Police For Chatham NJ To Become Sheriffs Officers
CHATHAM, NJ Nov 6 2021— There are 29 Morris County Park Police that make their rounds in county parks in Chatham, who will become part of the Bureau of Law Enforcement of the Sheriff’s Office starting on Jan. 1, the Park Police joining the ranks of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
The move was made by the Morris County Commissioners and Park Commissioners for the currently last-standing Park Police force statewide, according to a news release from the County of Morris, to provide uninterrupted insurance coverage for the officers, one of the main concerns sparking the consolidation of the two entities.
With being absorbed into the Sheriff’s Office, especially should “any legal actions arise in regards to an officer’s performance of his or her duties,” the news release stated,” the park police will have comparable coverage “afforded to all other officers in law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey.”
Among the parks that the Morris County Park Police officers patrol in Chatham are the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center and the Passaic River County Park.
These parks are part of the largest, county park system in New Jersey, said Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw, which boasts 39 facilities, 20,000 acres, 216 miles of trails, golf courses, historic sites, aboreta, conservation areas, recreational and outdoor education destinations and an ice arena.
“The Park Police have done an exemplary job in protecting the public, park staff, and the County’s 39 park facilities, and while the County has sought for years to merge the park police into the Sheriff’s Office, events over the past few years make this transition prudent and timely,” said President of the Park Commission, Stuart Lasser. “This structural change, along with appropriate funding, will offer the County’s parks enhanced safety and security.”
“I am very honored to witness the joining of these two very sophisticated Morris County law enforcement agencies,” Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said. “The Park Officers are some of the very best.”
“The Sheriff’s Office and Park Police already work together routinely,” he continued.
“This change will bring further opportunities to the Park Police staff as well as the Sheriff Officers, and it is in the best interest of the people of Morris County,” said Gannon.
Shaw said Gannon is planning to add several officers on staff to further strengthen the county’s park patrols, adding to the present 90-member Bureau of Law Enforcement’s headcount.
“This is a plan that will enhance the park operations,” said Shaw. “The park system is the largest county park system in the state and integral to the quality of life we work to preserve in Morris County.”
“This consolidation will insure that this important resource [the parks] continues to be safe and enjoyable for all our residents,” Shaw said.
Spokesperson for the County of Morris, Brian T. Murray, said the Morris County Parks system reopened within a few months after lockdowns, including the trails, the Parks Commission reporting an uptick in use of all outdoor facilities.
Murray said in 2020, Morris County’s parks and trails experienced a surge in use and quadrupled; and “continue to be heavily visited.”
“We consider our parks and trails to be one of the great jewels in Morris County, which is why we continue to preserve, protect and increase our trails and open space area,” said Murray.
For more information about Morris County’s parks, visit: www.morrisparks.net.
