Mayor Touts Public Safety Advancements Around Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty spoke about the recent changes to the Morristown Police Department on Tuesday, May 9, praising the department's new effort to reflect diversity.

Morristown has hired more than a dozen new police officers in the last 18 months, a move driven by necessity, according to Dougherty.

Morristown, like many other communities, saw an unusually high number of retirements in the aftermath of COVID-19, resulting in a large number of vacancies, according to officials. "It also offered an opportunity for us to hire young, enthusiastic officers that better reflect the diversity of our community," Dougherty said.

Because of the alternate route hiring process implemented last year with the support of the governing body, under-represented groups such as Hispanic, African American, Asian American, and female officers now make up more than 20 percent of the Morristown police force.

"Maintaining diversity in our ranks continues to be a focus of my administration, and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished here so far. But more can be done, and we will continue to ensure that our police officers are well-trained and well-rounded," Dougherty said.

The Morristown Police Department is currently led by Chief Darnell Richardson, the town's first Black police chief. Richardson was sworn in last year after working for the department as a uniformed officer since 1989 and receiving his first promotion to sergeant in 2007.

Morristown has reaffirmed its commitment to well-rounded, community-focused policing, according to Dougherty, with the implementation of new projects.

For example, the police department is creating a mental health outreach program to assist those who are struggling, have disabilities, or are in other difficult situations. When fully operational, the program's goal will be to provide a variety of services, such as food assistance, housing assistance, job training referrals, and more.

The Outreach Program, which has been dubbed H.E.A.R.T., is anticipated to be up and running in late 2023, officials said.

"In addition, our police will continue to focus on community outreach initiatives, like Coffee with a Cop, and will seek re-accreditation this year that will reaffirm the excellence that we’ve achieved. I am incredibly proud of the efforts and accomplishments of our police bureau," Dougherty said.