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Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Christopher Hudak, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan and Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County Janice C. Lilien attend the 4th annual Union County C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Action, Response, Education, Safety) Domestic Violence Symposium at Kean University in Union. They were joined by David Fletcher, President of the Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation and Shavar Jeffries, a partner with the law firm Lowenstein Sandler, LLP. Mr. Jeffries was the keynote speaker.

Symposium was sponsored by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, YWCA Union County, Kean University, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Elizabeth-based Family and Children’s Services, Iris House, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, and the Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation.

The Symposium was scheduled to coincide with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week, held this year from April 2 to 8 (for more information, go online to https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw).

A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Sunday, March 26, 2017, to examine all aspects of the Union County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Union County Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s “best practice” standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence”, Joseph Cryan  said.

As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email.  The public may call 908-527- 4080 on Monday, March 27, 2017  between the hours of 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.  Email comments can be sent to phora@ucnj.org.

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards.  A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Union County Sheriff’s Offfice 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth NJ 07207.  Please contact Sergeant Patrick Hora at (908) 527-4942.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Union County Sheriff’s Office ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program manager at hdelgado@njsacop.org or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office must comply with NJSACOP LEAP standards in order to achieve accredited status.  Sheriff Joseph Cryan indicated, “Accreditation results in 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 community needs.” 

The Accreditation Program Manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Mr. Harry J Delgado, Ed.S.  “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies.  The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed.  Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status”, Harry J Delgado stated. 

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission please write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053 or email hdelgado@njsacop.org

On Thursday, March 2, the Union County Sheriff’s Office took part in the Read Across America program throughout Union County.  Read Across America commemorates Dr Seuss’s birthday each year.  Sheriff Joe Cryan explained“ We send some of our officers out to schools throughout Union County to read a Dr. Seuss book to the kids”. He added “ It’s a great program.  This is the second consecutive year our officers have participated in this program.  It’s a win/win for our officers and the kids involved. Anytime we can get out in the community and interact with the kids in a positive way it’s a good thing, and it provides us an opportunity to promote reading to the kids in a fun way.”  Officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office read to students in School #9 in Elizabeth, Brunner Elementary School in Scotch Plains, the Hannah Caldwell Elementary School in Union, and the Cedarbrook K-8 School in Plainfield.

The Hillside Chapter of UNICO recently held a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Program at the Hillside Knights of Columbus in Hillside.

Well over 100 Veterans from all parts of the state, including the Lyons Hospital of the Veterans Administration in Lyons, attended the free breakfast and program. Donations were collected and turned over to Lyons Hospital for use for the Veterans.

Left to Right Hillside UNICO Chapter President Angelo J. Bonanno, Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan, Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, Hillside Council President and Third Ward Councilman Don DeAugustine, and Adam Samiec, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient for the Korean War, Hillside.
Sitting: World War II Veteran Mario Mauro, of Hillside, and World War II Veteran Steven Pega of Cranford.

Brendan Karolchyk the son of Scott and Sharon Karolchyk of Lake Hopatcong recently completed his Eagle Scout project.  As a result, the K-9 Officers of the Union County Sheriff’s Office will have a new storage shed outfitted with K-9 bite suit dryers and storage areas for other K-9 equipment.

For his Eagle Scout service project, Brendan designed the shed himself and coordinated the efforts to make it a reality.  Brendan organized the effort with the Union and Morris County Sheriff’s K-9 units, contractor Charlie Bautz, County Concrete of Ledgewood, Quality Fence of Ledgewood, and the help of his father Scott and his stepmom Sharon.

Brendan is a member of Boy Scout Troop 81 of Sparta, NJ. Brendan has now reached that rank of Eagle Scout and will celebrate the achievement in a ceremony in January.

Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan congratulates Eagle Scout Brendan Karolchyk with Sheriff’s K-9 officers Det. Gialanella, Sgt. Howarth, and Officer O’Grady.

K-9 Sgt. Brian Howarth with partner Devante, Sheriff Joe Cryan, Detective Anthony Gialanella with partner Marco, Eagle Scout Brendan Karolchyk, Scott Karolchyk, Sharon Karolchyk, and K-9 Officer O’Grady with partner Reese.

Sheriff’s Officers John McGarry, Michael Heller, Tamiko Brooks, Hurley Jones standing with staff members and children in the pre-K class from the Washington Elementary School in Plainfield.  The Sheriff’s Officer’s PBA Local 108 donated pumpkins to create a pumpkin patch for the kids. This the second year in a row the Sheriff’s Office has participated in this event.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan joined Community Access Unlimited (CAU) Senior Assistant Executive Director Tanya Johnson, former DYFS Director Nicholas Scalera and University of Pennsylvania student Glen Casey at the 4th Annual Union County Youth Services Networking Conference in Elizabeth.

The event was sponsored by the County of Union, CAU and a coalition of public and nonprofit youth services organizations that make up the Union County Youth Services Steering Committee and focused on improving services for youths and young adults. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

On Wednesday October 19, 2016 members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Elizabeth and Union Police Departments, participated in the 14^th Annual National Family Violence Apprehension Detail.   Union County agencies were part of approximately 220 Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments nationwide that attempted to serve outstanding arrest warrants related to Family Violence.  In Union County, Sheriff’s Officers attempted to serve 36 warrants, resulting in the physical arrest of 15 individuals for outstanding Family Violence issues and the voluntary surrender of 12 people for enforcement of child support matters.  Officers additionally served 11 Temporary Restraining Orders on defendants accused of Domestic Violence in a NJ DV Civil Complaint over a twenty four hour period.

This annual nationwide effort, coordinated by the Clackamas, OR Sheriff’s Office, is held in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness month.  The Union County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office to identify priority cases in which offenders were accused and charged with Violation of DV Restraining Orders, but never located and arrested.  Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation and Family Violence Units, under the supervision of LT Carlo Caparruva and LT Cliff Meros, worked leads to establish the whereabouts of all offenders and served the warrants over a twenty-four hour period on October 19.

Sheriff Joseph Cryan stated, “This is an example of harnessing the resources of all law enforcement agencies.  There are victims in our County that did not feel safe knowing that the offenders had not yet faced justice for their crimes.  Our Officers worked with the Prosecutor’s Office Family Violence Unit and the Police Departments where the charges originated to help ensure that those accused of Domestic Violence are brought forth to the proper adjudication of those charges.  I hope that we can help a few of those victims sleep a little more soundly this evening.  While this Sweep was a single day event, this is an ongoing issue and a priority for the Union County Sheriff’s Office.  My Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to help ensure the safety of victims of Domestic Violence on a daily basis.”

For more information or assistance, contact the New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The confidential 24-hour, seven-day-a-week hotline aids domestic violence victims and others seeking information, referral services or crisis intervention.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan in congratulating the winners of the 6th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Pistol Competition at the Union County Sheriff’s Firearms Training Facility in Springfield.

Officer John Perez of the Roselle Police Department won 1st Place. Sgt. Helder Freire of the Roselle Police Department took 2nd Place. Detective Ken Grady of the Kenilworth Police Department took 3rd Place. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)