Morris County prosecutor, sheriff, narcotics unit honored by law enforcement association

Kyle Morel, New Jersey Herald
·2 min read

Morris County took center stage in Atlantic City last week, where three law enforcement organizations and department heads were recognized for their work in combating the illegal drug trade over the past year.

County Prosecutor Robert Carroll was named Prosecutor of the Year by the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association at the group's annual awards luncheon June 15, and Sheriff Jim Gannon was named Sheriff of the Year. The prosecutor's office Special Enforcement Unit was recognized for an April operation that led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of more than 300 grams of cocaine along with $14,000 and various drug distribution materials.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, right, is presented with the Prosecutor of the Year award by George Snowden, second vice president of the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, at the association's awards luncheon in Atlantic City Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, right, is presented with the Prosecutor of the Year award by George Snowden, second vice president of the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, at the association's awards luncheon in Atlantic City Thursday, June 15, 2023.

As the Morris County prosecutor, Carroll has strengthened relationships with municipalities to help the Special Enforcement Unit staff its Narcotics Task Force with officers from local departments. The officers learn how to investigate for-profit distributors of drugs like fentanyl and heroin, using their resources to prosecute those responsible for fatal overdoses.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this most prestigious award especially from the NJNEOA," Carroll said in a statement. "Successful prosecutions are made through dedicated men and women working tirelessly and diligently to make the cases that need to be made."

Morris County law enforcement personnel, including Sheriff Jim Gannon, center, and Prosecutor Robert Carroll, far right, show off their awards at the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association awards luncheon in Atlantic City Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Morris County law enforcement personnel, including Sheriff Jim Gannon, center, and Prosecutor Robert Carroll, far right, show off their awards at the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association awards luncheon in Atlantic City Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Carroll acknowledged his partners in Morris County and throughout New Jersey in accepting the award, highlighting those who have spent their careers "relentlessly fighting the scourge of illegal drugs and the related crimes they spawn in our nation."

The narcotics association was formed in 1965 to foster cooperation and exchange ideas in reducing drug abuse and illegal trading. The group includes more than 2,000 members of federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement, as well as officials in government, education and private industry.

The county prosecutor's office earned another achievement last week when Christopher Schellhorn, chief assistant prosecutor of the Tactical Division, was named president of the Morris County Bar Foundation. The foundation was established in 1990 as the charitable affiliate of the county Bar Association.

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties. Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Morris County prosecutor, sheriff honored by narcotics officers group