Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch retires, plans time with family

Francis Koch has undoubtedly been "all in" when it came to vacations and family events with his wife and three children, but as Sussex County's top law enforcement officer, there have been quite a few times he's been pulled away for work.

"When that phone rang, I had to answer it, whether at the shore or Disney, you have to be able to handle it," Koch said by phone this week.

But Koch, while admitting the role of county prosecutor was taxing on both he and his family, says he feels a sense of pride walking away after serving eight years in the most rewarding job he's ever had.

Koch, who was sworn in as Sussex County's prosecutor in June 2014 and has served 25 years in law enforcement, has retired, effective July 1. His final day was June 30.

"I've been blessed with the ability to do this work for almost my entire career," Koch said, adding that he thanks those closest to him who supported him, despite knowing the strain it put on them.

Koch said his plans are focused on a "true" retirement to spend quality time with his family and plans to remain in Sussex County, at least while his wife, Mary Frances, works as a school teacher. He looks forwards to spending time with her as well as his children, who are all in different stages of their lives: His daughter Aileen just got engaged, so wedding planning is in the near future, his son, Dylan, got married and bought a new house and his youngest son, Garett, will be preparing for his next phase after he graduates college.

Koch isn't one to gloat about his achievements and was often a quiet, but powerful, presence while at the helm. By phone Wednesday, the career prosecutor spent much time lauding the team he supervised at the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office that included nearly 50 full-time employees, from investigators and assistant prosecutors to legal secretaries.

Stating it was his "privilege" to lead the office, Koch noted that "from detectives to assistant prosecutors to support staff, in my opinion, have no equal."

"I describe our office as a family that has some differences, at times, and we work through them and we join to get the job done, correctly and justly," he said. And as a team tasked with investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses, Koch said they understand the importance of justice and fairness, not just convictions.

"It's an awesome responsibility," Koch said, referring to the role of those in his office, "and it's not something they need to fear, but something they have to understand and treat with respect. We have people's lives, at times or at least a period of time, in our hands.

Koch also called it an honor to work with "some of the best and brightest" law enforcement officers in the state and admired the unique diversity of the county, where the size of municipal police departments range from the largest in Sparta with around 30 officers to Ogdensburg with six, including the chief. The New Jersey State Police covers roughly 50% of the county. He also expressed gratitude to Chief of Detectives Thomas McCormick, whose over 40 years of experience in law enforcement has led other counties to call on him for his expertise.

"Despite all these differences and areas they cover, [our law enforcement departments] work together and collaborate and corroborate with one another whenever necessary and [are there to] provide mutual aid," Koch said.

Koch, who technically worked under First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller between 2009 and 2014, called his colleague an incredible counselor and advisor to him as well as a tremendous advocate for the county. Mueller will remain in his position.

Mueller and Koch each lauded one another for their standout courtroom presence and skills, nearly echoing each other's sentiments.

"Francis had a legendary career," Mueller recalled Thursday. "He rose up through the ranks as county prosecutor, a rare achievement anywhere in the state of New Jersey."

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In New Jersey, the governor nominates a county prosecutor and the State Senate approves them for a five-year term. Koch was nominated by then-Gov. Chris Christie in May 2014, was confirmed in June the same year and sworn in later that month, succeeding outgoing Prosecutor David Weaver, who is now a state Superior Court judge in the Morris/Sussex vicinage. Koch thanked Gov. Phil Murphy for allowing him to remain as a holdover for three additional years.

Koch, as Mueller noted, was elected in 2018 as president of the County Prosecutor's Association of New Jersey and throughout his term as Sussex's prosecutor, was involved in several major changes to the criminal justice system, including criminal justice reform and the implementation of school safety initiatives. He worked closely with The Center for Prevention and Counseling and was a key part of the creation of the C.L.E.A.R. program, a collaboration of Sussex County police advocates who have helped facilitate options for those struggling with substance use disorders.

Koch also served eight years as a board member for Ginnie's House Children's Advocacy Center in Newton, which offers a place for children subjected to abuse to seek help and counseling to allow them to heal. Ginnie's House was opened in the 1990s by Virginia "Ginnie" Littell, the former chairwoman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee whose husband, Robert, was the longest-serving legislator in New Jersey history when he retired in 2007.

The center holds a special place in Koch's heart: He considers the 11 years he served as the assistant prosecutor in the child physical and sexual abuse unit some of the most impactful moments of his life.

Koch recalled a case involving a child victim of sexual abuse and a moment he ran into the little girl and her family as they walked into the Sussex County courthouse for sentencing.

When the girl saw Koch, she said, "Speak of the Devil," a reference to the family having just spoken about him in conversation, and Koch said he turned to the girl and said, "Really, the Devil? I think I've been a little better than that."

The child without hesitation, Koch recalled, looked at him and responded, "Mr. Koch, you are my guardian angel."

The moment is ingrained in his brain, he said, and served as his "guiding light and my inspiration to do more."

Mueller said Koch secured several awards for victim advocacy — Koch humbly did not mention those — was a strong advocate for recovery and wellness in the county and always cared deeply for those he worked with.

"He served the office and the county extremely well," Mueller said. "It was an honor and pleasure to work for him."

Koch received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in 1987 and graduated from Seton Hall Law School in 1990. He served as a municipal prosecutor for a short time before being hired by then-Sussex County Prosecutor Dolores Blackburn, whom he expresses gratitude, in January 1998.

While he doesn't say "never" to another law firm in the future, Koch said it is not in the immediate plans. For now, it's all about family.

As equally important is the time Koch said he will spend with his 92-year-old parents, Paul and Helen, who he says have been his inspiration. He looks forward to getting out on the golf course with his father every other week and spending time whipping up new family recipes with his mom.

"Now, I get to go back to being Mary Frances' husband, Paul and Helen Koch's son and Aileen, Dillon and Garett's dad," Koch said. "Those are the titles I am most proud of and the ones I believe define who I am."

And now, Koch can chose whether or not he wants to answer his cellphone.

Koch said his replacement will be a decision made by the governor's office. A request for comment from Murphy's office and the state Attorney General's Office was not returned. Since the governor's office has not announced a nominee, it is likely an acting prosecutor will be put in place before a permanent one is chosen.

Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex County NJ: Prosecutor Francis Koch retires after 8 years