MORRIS COUNTY — After more than 25 years of dedicated service to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Kelley Zienowicz has officially retired, leaving a legacy of excellence, leadership, and integrity. A Boston College graduate with a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College, Chief Zienowicz’s career began in 1999 as a civilian employee and grew through every agency rank.

Throughout her career, Chief Zienowicz played a pivotal role in numerous high-profile investigations, including the 2001 Roxbury double homicide and the 2009 Chatham murder of Father Hinds. Known for her expertise in fingerprint analysis, she frequently served as an expert witness in court.

She successfully implemented the BEAST evidence tracking system and helped launch CivilServe, a new civil process database. After graduating from the FBI National Academy in 2018, she led several divisions, including Special Services and Protective Services, and ultimately became Chief Sheriff’s Officer in 2019.

During her tenure as Chief, she guided the office through the COVID-19 pandemic and supported major transitions, including integrating the Morris County Park Police. Her leadership extended beyond county borders, as she later became an instructor at Hungary’s International Law Enforcement Academy.

“Chief Zienowicz was always keen on where our organization was and is certainly leaving it better prepared for the future,” said Sheriff James M. Gannon. Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen praised her “leadership, integrity, and selfless dedication to public safety.”

In her farewell, Chief Zienowicz reminded colleagues to be lifelong learners and supportive teammates: “We must remember that we have the unique opportunity to be the ‘light in the darkness’ for many.”

She leaves her post with gratitude and the respect of the law enforcement community, both near and far.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert M. McNally announce that on June 12, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) was re-accredited by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP), following unanimous approval by the NJSACOP Accreditation Board. Initial accreditation was attained by the MCPO in 2013, and this is the fourth time the office has been re-accredited since.

The NJSACOP program consisted of 112 professional standards for this accreditation cycle, many of which have multiple sub-sections. These standards address (5) primary functions, including Administration, Personnel, Operations, Investigative, and Arrestee control. The process involved an in-depth analysis of MCPO operations over the 3 years from 2022 through 2024 to ensure that policies and performance are consistent with the accreditation standards, thus demonstrating best practices for law enforcement in the State of New Jersey. After the cycle, a team of independent assessors from the NJSACOP conducted off-site audits and on-site inspections of our operations, confirming that the MCPO complied with the accreditation standards. These assessors subsequently submitted a detailed report to the twelve-member NJSACOP Accreditation Board recommending that the MCPO should be re-accredited. The process culminated with a review of this report by Board members, followed by an official hearing where information on various topics was exchanged between the members and Prosecutor Carroll, before the Board ultimately voted unanimously to award re-accreditation to the MCPO.

Prosecutor Carroll stated, “Just as society progresses over time, so too must law enforcement continue to provide professional services that effectively address contemporary challenges and achieve public expectations. We have found that our continued participation in the Accreditation Program significantly contributes to satisfying those objectives.” He further stated, “While maintaining our accreditation status reflects positively on the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a whole, it could not have been achieved without the continued professional commitment demonstrated by our personnel daily, for which I commend each for their contributions towards this notable achievement.”