Published on October 31, 2024
County Commissioners Honor Office for 200 Years of Service
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners honored the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) during a bicentennial dinner gala last night at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, marking the office’s 200 years of dedicated service to law and public safety.
Commissioner Douglas Cabana, joined by the full Board of County Commissioners, presented a framed resolution of honor to Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and his leadership team in recognition of the MCPO’s bicentennial.
“Since 1824 the Prosecutor’s Office has been entrusted with promoting a safe and secure environment for Morris County, and I think we can all agree that they have done an exemplary job,” said Commissioner Cabana, the board’s liaison to the law enforcement in Morris County. “Morris County stands today as one of the safest counties in the state, if not the country. The strength of the institution we honor tonight lies, of course, in its people.”
Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Tom Kean and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Sheriff James Gannon and Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds also presented honors and praised Prosecutor Carroll and the MCPO for their work. Among those in attendance was retired Appellate Court Judge Donald Collester, who became Morris County’s first full-time prosecutor in 1971 and served until 1977 before becoming a Superior Court judge.
Seated with him during the gala were retired Superior Court JudgesStephen Smith and Thomas Critchley, who continues to serve on recall duty. The event was attended by other sitting judges as well as current and past members of the prosecutor’s office, including former Morris County Prosecutors Fredric Knapp and Robert Bianchi.
View Photos from the MCPO Bicentennial Dinner Gala
The MCPO was established on December 11, 1823, when the New Jersey General Assembly passed legislation requiring prosecutors to be attorneys appointed for five-year terms — a practice that continues today. George K. Drake, the first “Prosecutor of the Pleas,” took office on December 20, 1824.
Prosecutor Carroll was appointed to his five-year term by Governor Phil Murphy in 2020.
“As the chief law enforcement agency serving a region that predates the founding of our nation, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office aims to build upon the foundation and commitment to justice demonstrated by the men and women who have served before us,” said Prosecutor Carroll. “Our dedication to lawfulness is the cornerstone of our office’s mission – committing resources in partnership with the law enforcement community, our County Government and Sheriff’s Office and most importantly, the citizens of Morris County, all working together to promote a safe and secure environment.”
Since its founding, the MCPO has evolved to address the changing needs of county residents. Under the guidance of Prosecutor Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, the office has upheld a legacy of excellence in investigating major criminal enterprises and addressing critical issues impacting the community.
From bringing closure to the decades-old “Baby Mary” cold case to tackling the opioid crisis, the MCPO has taken on some of the county’s most pressing challenges. Their efforts have earned commendations from numerous law enforcement agencies and strengthened trust within the community. Among the many awards and honors earned by the MCPO, Prosecutor Carroll was recently named Prosecutor of the Year by the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association.
“Law enforcement cannot exist without community support,” said Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, who served as Deputy Chief of Investigations for the MCPO from 1986 to 2007. “This is something that the Prosecutor’s Office has understood from the beginning. We are a county that takes action, that gets out into neighborhoods and offers solutions.”
“Celebrating 200 years of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is a remarkable milestone, and we owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who has served here. Our county’s rich history is grounded in the assurance that we live in a place where justice and safety are paramount,” said Commissioner Director Christine Myers.
Myers, who serves on the Morris County’s 250th Anniversary Steering Committee, also noted that the MCPO’s bicentennial aligns with the upcoming America250 celebrations in 2026 as the county prepares to honor our nation’s 250th anniversary.
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Photo: (l-r) Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner Director Christine Myers, Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Commissioners Douglas Cabana, John Krickus, Tayfun Selen and Deborah Smith.
