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News & Information

Project Lifesaver Demonstration

Release Date: May 30, 2019
The Sussex County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Sparta Police Department conducted a Project Life Saver presentation at Station Park in Sparta Township on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Project Lifesaver Demonstration

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Sparta Police Department conducted a Project Life Saver presentation at Station Park in Sparta Township on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office has participated with Project Lifesaver since 2004 in an effort to provide enhanced support and assistance to Sussex County residents who are primary caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, Down syndrome or related cognitive disorders.

Project Lifesaver utilizes SafetyNet by LoJack, a tracking system which assists law enforcement in quickly locating individuals who have wandered. Implemented nationwide by more than one thousand agencies, the Project Lifesaver program has reduced search time from days down to an average of thirty minutes with no serious injuries or fatalities reported.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office currently has 28 clients on the program with ages ranging from 3 years old to 90 years old.

How does Project Lifesaver work?

Your loved one wears a battery-operated waterproof transmitter bracelet on his/her wrist or ankle. The transmitter emits a signal that sheriff's officers can track in the event that someone goes missing. Trained sheriff's officers will be sent to your residence monthly to change the battery and check that the transmitter is functioning properly. In addition, the caregiver will be required to check the transmitter's battery at least once per day with a special tester that will be provided.

Who is eligible?

Adults and children who wander or may wander due to Alzheimer's, autism, and other related conditions or disorders are all eligible for Project Lifesaver. The prospective client must be a resident of Sussex County, must have a 24-hour caregiver and must be willing to wear the transmitter at all times.

What is the cost?

The initial set up fee which includes all the necessary equipment is $275.00 and the monthly maintenance fee is $10.00. At this time, all fees are waived and the program is being provided to citizens at no charge.

How do we enroll?

Download and complete our enrollment package, which can be found on our website at www.sussexcountysheriff.com external link which consists of an instruction sheet, detailed application and contract. The latter two documents should be filled out by the caregiver and returned to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office will then review the application and once approved, you will be contacted to schedule a date and time from the program administrator to meet with you and your family. At that meeting, the contract will be signed, the bracelet will be installed and the caregiver will receive instruction about the equipment and how to test it daily.

Sheriff Strada stated, "We are glad to be able to provide this valuable program to those in need. Working in conjunction with local municipal and state law enforcement allows us to utilize this tool to keep the citizens of Sussex County safe should a loved one wander."

Project Lifesaver Exercise photos


5/20/2019

Sheriff Michael F. Strada awards Sheriff's Officer and New Jersey State Police Trooper with Life Saving Award

Pictured Left to Right:  Lieutenant Matt Avenatti, Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla, Sergeant Gray, Sheriff Strada
Pictured Left to Right: Lieutenant Matt Avenatti, Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla, Sergeant Gray, Sheriff Strada

Sheriff Michael F. Strada presented Sergeant John Gray of the Sussex County Sheriff's Office and New Jersey State Police Trooper Victor Cabrera-Bonilla with a Life Saving Award in recognition of their response to a medical call in Sussex County.

Both officers quickly responded to the call and performed "two-man CPR" while also utilizing an automated external defibrillator AED unit as the victim was in full cardiac arrest. Both Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla and Sergeant Gray continued to work together, established a heartbeat and the victim began to breathe. The victim was transported by the local first aid squad for additional medical attention and the victim survived the incident.

Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada said, "The lifesaving actions of Sergeant Gray and Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla reflect the highest standards of service to the community and their performance is an example of true professionalism."

Present at the ceremony were officers of the Sussex County Sheriff's Office along with New Jersey State Police Station Commander, Lieutenant Matt Avenatti of the Troop B Sussex Barracks. Lieutenant Avenatti praised the members of the Sussex County Sheriff's Office by noting that because of the seamless relationship between the two law enforcement agencies, especially as they perform training sessions together, this enabled the two officers to work effectively. Lieutenant Avenatti further stated, "Agencies that train together, respond better together for the citizens of Sussex County".


12/7/2018

Sussex County Sheriff's Office Raises $5,000 through "No-Shave November"

No Shave November

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office concluded "No-Shave November" by raising $5,000 for cancer awareness. The non-profit group, No-Shave November's mission is devoted to "growing" cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research and education. Over 65 officers and administration participated by forgoing shaving and collecting donations for this worthy charity. Sheriff Michael Strada, who participated as well, said "I am proud of the efforts made by our officers. I would like to thank those who donated and we look forward to participating and raising more funds next year."

No Shave November

Pictured are some of the participants from the Sussex County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement and Corrections Bureaus.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office Badge


8/7/2018

Tom Jindracek, State of NJ Superior Court Assistant Trial Court Administrator for Morris/Sussex County Vicinage & Sgt. Krista Galante
Tom Jindracek, State of NJ Superior Court Assistant Trial Court Administrator for Morris/Sussex County Vicinage & Sgt. Krista Galante

Recently, Sheriff's Sergeant Krista Galante was named the 2018 New Jersey JSMART (Judicial Security Management Response Team) Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

JSMART is a cooperative effort between the 21 Sheriff's Offices of New Jersey, the United States Marshals Service, the New Jersey State Police, and the Court & Judicial Security Unit of the State Judiciary which is responsible for the provision of a statewide task force to protect the judiciary and the maintenance of a statewide protective intelligence database, the Suspicious Activity Monitoring System (SAMS), to share intelligence with law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Sgt. Galante has been with the Sussex County Sheriff's Office since 2003, serving in both the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Law Enforcement. Since JSMART's inception in 2015, Sgt. Galante has been a core committee member, ultimately being named JSMART Statewide Communications Coordinator in 2017, a role in which she still currently serves.

Sheriff Strada congratulates Sgt. Galante on her well deserved recognition and wishes her continued success in her career.


4/10/2018

Cub Scouts Toured the Sussex County Sheriff's 911 Communications Center

Sheriff Michael F. Strada, Mark Rozek and Cub Scouts
Sheriff Michael F. Strada, Mark Rozek and Cub Scouts

Sheriff Michael F. Strada recently hosted a tour of the Sussex County Sheriff's 911 Communications Center to Cub Scout, Den 5 of the Hampton Pack 96 Troop.

Den Leader, Brandt Anderson said "Our kids are working on an advancement that requires our troop to examine the resources within their community that are designed to help the community function in a time of need." Sheriff Strada, along with 911 Communications Director, Mark Rozek, took the boys through the Sussex County Communications Center and discussed what happens when you place a 911 call. The kids received a great lesson in emergency services and how it helps the community.

Mr. Anderson noted, "We are also incorporating the idea of local heroes. The kids have decided, on their own, that Sheriff Strada and his deputies are the heroes that they feel best serve our township."


1/22/2018

Sussex County Sheriff's Office Warns of Jury Duty Telephone Scam

Sheriff Michael F. Strada announced that a long running telephone scam seeking payment for false warrants and overdue payment to the IRS has taken a new twist. This new twist involves a threat of arrest for not appearing for Jury Duty as summoned.

The scam involves a caller stating that he or she is with the Sheriff's Office, will give an Officer's name, and has a warrant for that person's arrest. The imposter then goes on to say that it can be handled either "civilly" or "criminally" but if thy elect to pay a civil fine, there will be no arrest.

The caller will give instructions on using a pre-paid debit card from a major bank or a Green Dot Card. The caller will go so far as to give stores where these pre-paid cards can be purchased. Sheriff Strada stated that this is the latest variation to the false warrant scam and the Internal Revenue Service scam demanding overdue tax payments in the same manner. The caller will provide a call back phone number where payment can be made. The phone number is then answered falsely identifying it as the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Strada stressed that legitimate law enforcement agencies will not tell people to provide money card information to avoid arrest. It is further warned that even if the caller has some name or knowledge, the receiver of the call should not provide any personal information such as date of birth or social security information. You should not engage with the caller and simply hang up.


Sussex County Sheriff

Sussex County Sheriff's Office Accreditation

For Immediate Release
November 23, 2015
Contact: Sheriff Michael F. Strada
973-579-0850

Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the Sussex County Sheriff's Office has been granted accreditation by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

On June 11, 2015, the Sussex County Sheriff's was found to have fulfilled all of the accreditation standards as established by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and was awarded a three year certificate of accreditation.

A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police reviewed and examined all aspects of the Sussex County Sheriff's Office's policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services as part of a verification process to ensure the agency met the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commissions' standards to achieve accreditation. Accreditation is a process that takes approximately three years to accomplish. It is a progressive and time proven way of helping law enforcement agencies calculate and improve overall performance.

The accreditation program requires agencies to comply with the best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function. Upon completion of their review, they reported their findings to the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission to make the determination if the Sheriff's Office was to be granted accredited status.

Some of the benefits of becoming an accredited law enforcement agency include a greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency's ability to operate efficiently and respond to the needs of its community. Additionally, accredited agencies may also be eligible for a discounted insurance rate.

To date, there are 138 law enforcement agencies within New Jersey who are either accredited or are actively seeking accreditation from the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office is only the second law enforcement agency within Sussex County to be granted such accredited status.

At a recent Freeholder meeting, Sheriff Strada was presented with the certificate of completion by representative from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. Sheriff Strada stated, "This is another step in enhancing and improving the services we provide to the citizens of Sussex County".