MORRIS COUNTY — To the Citizens of Morris County:

The topics of police reform and de-funding the police are still hot button issues both locally and nationwide. However, on behalf of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, I would like to a few moments to tell you why policing in Morris County is “A Step Ahead” of our counterparts nationwide. While we do realize that we are not always perfect, we do strive for perfection and out of that we have achieved excellence. As chiefs, we continue to look for better ways to police our communities while strengthening our relationships and trust within the communities we serve.

Internal Affairs and Early Warning Process:
Allegations of police misconduct are always taken seriously and investigated by Internal Affairs Officers and depending on the nature of the allegation they are investigated by the Morris County Prosecutors Office Professional Standards Unit. Each police department is required to post on its website information regarding the complaint process and how to file a citizen complaint. Early Warning Systems were developed to track problem behaviors and to identify “at-risk-officers” so that corrective actions can be taken before serious problems develop and have been in effect since 2013.

Training:
All police officers in the State of New Jersey must complete the NJ Basic Police Academy Course and receive certification from the Police Training Commission. The police academy is a 20-week training program consisting of comprehensive classroom and hands-on training in police procedures, physical training, and criminal law. This is just the beginning of an officer’s life long career of perpetual training. Officers then go through a Field Training Program with a mentor before they are released to work as a fully certified officer. The NJ Attorney Generals Office has mandated yearly training in subject areas of Use of Force, Firearms, Pursuit Training, Domestic Violence, and Community Law Enforcement Affirmative Relations (CLEAR) training. The CLEAR training program was instituted in 2016 and officers must take at least three credit hours of continuing education each year. Since the CLEAR Program’s inception was instituted in 2016 and officers must take at least three credit hours of continuing education each year. Since the CLEAR Program’s inception officers have completed classes in De-Escalation Techniques for Individuals with Special Needs/Mental Health Issues, Cultural Diversity and De-Escalation, Sex Assault Investigations. 2020 is an elective year and officers will be completing a course titled: Law Enforcement Interactions with Transgender Individuals.

Crisis Intervention Team:
Morris County police officers have always had a great partnership with mental health professionals throughout the county. We welcome the Attorney General’s Office initiative to expand the training between mental health professionals and officers to reduce use-of-force and death-in custody incidents.

Licensing for Police Officers:
The Morris County Police Chiefs Association fully supports the NJ Police Training Commission to create a statewide police licensing program. This program requires officers to maintain uniform professional standards to work as a police officer in New Jersey. This would be another valuable tool in our toolbox to vet our prospective new officers.

Use of Force Policy Review and Portal:
New Jersey’s Use of Force Policy is due for a review, and we support the notion of a Use of Force Portal to allow for a meaningful analysis for use-of-force data across the state to ensure that we are following best practices. There is a public comment portal for the public to weigh in on by clicking here which will be open to submissions until August 1, 2020. We encourage you to complete the survey.

Directive 2020-5-Requiring Public Disclosure of Identities of Officers who Commit Serious Disciplinary Violations:
The members of the Morris County Chief Association do not support this new directive because it truly does not serve the public interest of transparency and accountability. Some “good” officers may have made minor administrative infractions and through the process of progressive discipline would now be labeled as “bad cops” even though they never committed an egregious act that would bring disrespect to their badge and agency. If allowed to stand, this directive will give the public a distorted view of the officers and departments in the state. There are also concerns for officers and their families regarding the release of their names that need further discussion. Several of the police unions have successfully filed for a stay on releasing the names of officers and the matter will be heard in October by the Appellate Division. On Friday, July 10th, the NJ Supreme Court has denied the Attorney Generals’ request to overturn the Appellate Court’s stay.

The notion of de-funding the police seriously jeopardizes your safety and all of the proactive measures that police departments in Morris County have already taken to be a “step ahead”. In fact, we need more training for our officers and equipment like body-worn cameras to better serve you. Unfortunately, the training and equipment do come with a cost to you, the local taxpayer and many municipalities simply can’t afford those added expenses right now without additional funding from the State of New Jersey.

The police officers in Morris County work hard to maintain the highest level of integrity, professionalism, compassion, service, and efficiency. It is our mission to protect life and property, enforce the law fairly and impartially and to preserve the peace, order, and safety in our community. The officers in Morris County do just that and are the best there is, working tirelessly day and night to ensure your safety. We trust them completely, believe in them, and are extremely proud of them, as we are proud to serve you as well.

Respectfully,
Chief Thomas Williver
President of the Morris County Chief of Police Association

PARSIPPANY — Inmates at the Morris County Correctional Facility who haven’t received visits in more than four months because of COVID-19 restrictions will soon be able to connect with family and friends through wireless tablets.

The Correctional Facility, which is run by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and houses inmates from both Morris and Sussex counties, was provided at least 85 Android tablets by GTL, a leader in technology and wireless solutions for correctional facilities.

Although inmates can telephone relatives and friends, the Correctional Facility on March 16 temporarily suspended in-person inmate visits with family to minimize the spread of COVID-19.  The restriction currently remains in effect and has dispirited some inmates, Morris County Correctional Facility Warden Christopher Klein said.

Warden Klein noted that the tablets do not cost taxpayers any money. The cost of the tablet visit time spent by inmates is withdrawn from their commissary accounts by GTL. Inmates who lack funds will be allotted $3.75 a week from a special inmate welfare fund to engage in a 15-minute virtual visit with relatives.

“In these trying times it’s very beneficial for inmates to have supportive contact with family,” Warden Klein said.

“At no cost to taxpayers, this program will allow inmates important contact with caring relatives who can help ease stress and isolation the inmates may feel,” Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

Beyond virtual visits, the tablets also can be used to access approved educational and entertainment materials and in-house request forms. When visitation restrictions are lifted, inmates may also use the tablets to virtually visit with relatives and friends who live out-of-state or cannot make in-person visits to the Correctional Facility.

Correctional Facility Lieutenant Michael Schweizer and Sergeants Raymond Dykstra and Shawn Johnston have been spear-heading the tablet project and working with GTL on fine-tuning operational aspects.

Multiple safeguards are in place for use of the tablets:

• They run on GTL’s network security, a full-featured security access control software;
• Virtual visits can only be initiated by family and friends outside the facility;
• The tablet cameras used for virtual visits are operational only in secure visiting booths and not from within inmate cells;
• Features that could present potential security risks have been removed and inmates have no access to core device settings other than volume, rotation, and brightness control.

Virtual visits will be allowed on the same days and times that in-person visits were permitted before the suspension. The use of the tablets for educational or entertainment purposes can occur whenever inmates are not locked in their cells at specific times.

Regardless of the criminal charges they face, all inmates will have access to the tablets as long as they are in compliance with Correctional Facility rules.

Family and friends who wish to make virtual visits with an inmate at the Morris County Correctional Facility can click here to create an account to access the video visitation.  Once the account is set up, funds can be deposited by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy unveils his Administration’s plan to address the digital divide for New Jersey students at Madison Avenue School in Irvington on July 16, 2020.

By Paul D. Vesely

MORRIS COUNTY — I am in the unfortunate position of having to change and update registrations for two of our vehicles. After visiting the Motor Vehicle Commission in Hazlet at Airport Plaza Shopping Center, I found out that in spite of the information I obtained on the internet about that office opening for business on June 29th, it was still closed. It wouldn’t reopen until July 7, 2020. I thought given the backlog it would be advisable to get there early on July 7th. I arrived a 6 a.m. and there was a line completely around the shopping plaza. Many people had been camping at this location ov…

New research has found that people with “dark” personality characteristics, such as psychopathy and narcissism, are less likely to comply with efforts to impede the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and more likely to stockpile goods such as food and toilet paper.Two new studies, both published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, reinforce previous findings that the “Dark Triad” of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism is associated with ignoring preventative COVID-19 measures.But the new research indicates that health beliefs and situational perceptions may…

MORRIS COUNTY — After months of inaction, the fifteen members of the Senate Republican caucus called on Senate President Sweeney in a letter (Click here to download) to stop delaying the formation of a special investigative committee to examine thousands of nursing home death, saying Senate Republicans are ready to take the lead if empowered to do so.

The full text of the letter is below:

July 21, 2020

Dear Senate President Sweeney,

After months of delay and inaction, it is time for you to formally constitute the investigative body that was promised to help us understand how the executive branch’s response to COVID-19 may have contributed to the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities, with the goal of saving lives in the future.

Our caucus has written to you several times over the past two months to express the critical importance of this effort. For reference, our prior correspondence can be found on our website at the following links:

• • May 13, 2020: – Click here
  • May 20, 2020: – Click here
  • May 29, 2020: – Click here
  • June 2, 2020: – Click here

We were cautiously optimistic that progress was being made when you joined with Leader Kean on May 22, 2020, to announce plans to create a bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee to “investigate the surge of COVID-19 fatalities in the state’s long term care facilities,” among other things.

Unfortunately, despite the determination of Senate Republicans to move this process forward, no steps have been taken by the Senate Democratic Majority beyond that initial press release. No action has been taken to understand how flawed policies of the administration could be improved to better protect the tens of thousands of seniors, veterans, and residents with disabilities who live in long-term care facilities across New Jersey.

Various members of our caucus, including Leader Kean, have asked repeatedly, both directly and through staff, when the formal resolution would be voted upon to form the committee. We have asked for details of the committee’s membership and when meetings would begin. Every response at every level has been couched in uncertainty. There is no excuse for this delay.

As the weeks have dragged on into months, the situation in our long-term care facilities has not improved, nor has the need for our investigation diminished. Today, a full 50% of New Jersey’s COVID-19 deaths can be attributed to LTCs, no less than when we first called for an investigation in early May. Nearly 7,000 residents of these facilities have died, and the number continues to climb every day.

This has had far-reaching consequences impacting every New Jerseyan. After the administration failed to properly protect nursing homes, leading to a wildfire of infection and death, the governor pointed to data heavily skewed by extremely vulnerable LTC populations to justify draconian statewide lockdown orders. Had he been more transparent about how COVID-19 was really impacting New Jersey, it may have been apparent sooner that less damaging steps could have been taken to protect the rest of the state.

Even today, the repercussions of dangerous policy directives, misrepresented data, and arbitrary decision-making by the administration continue to impact New Jersey. Every single legislator, Republican, and Democrat, should have an interest in seeking the truth and working to develop thoughtful reforms based on what we learn. We know there are people who are waiting for the opportunity to tell us important and maybe shocking stories. We should give them a forum, and we should listen.

Surprisingly, it appears that many members of your Senate Democratic caucus do not support such an effort, wishing neither to vote for the creation of an investigative committee nor to serve on it if formed. Perhaps they do not want the public to understand how thousands of New Jerseyans may have died unnecessarily, or why a million of our neighbors needlessly lost their jobs. Maybe they don’t want to investigate the failures of a Democratic governor, or are afraid of retribution from his administration, as some have claimed.

Senate Republicans are ready to take the lead if empowered to do so. As Senate President, you have the authority to advance the formation of the committee, to put Republicans in charge, and to give us the subpoena power needed to compel witness testimony. If the majority party remains unwilling to lead in a time of crisis, especially in an endeavor that could save lives, it should step out of the way.

We continue to believe that the Legislature must utilize the full range of its oversight powers as a co-equal branch of government to demand accountability and improve transparency from the administration. It should be a bipartisan effort. One way or another, however, this special investigative committee must be allowed to proceed. The thousands who died deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

Thomas Kean
Leader

Joe Pennacchio
Whip

Kristin Corrado
Conference Leader

Kip Bateman
Deputy Whip

Robert Singer
Deputy Leader

Chris Brown
Deputy Conference Leader

Steven Oroho
Budget Officer

Anthony M. Bucco
Senator – District 25

Gerald Cardinale
Senator – District 39

Christopher Connors
Senator – District 9

Michael Doherty
Senator – District 23

James Holzapfel
Senator – District 10

Declan O’Scanlon
Senator – District 13

Michael Testa
Senator – District 1

Samuel Thompson
Senator – District 12