MORRIS COUNTY — This past week the Morris County Sheriff’s Office completed its first ever Clergy Academy.
More than thirty religious leaders from throughout Morris County participated in this three session program. The academy included a dialogue between law enforcement and the clergy about their role in police community relations as well as an overview of our criminal justice and public safety system.
The participants also toured the award winning Morris County Correctional Facility and was given a realistic look at Use of Force by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Law & Public Safety in its Vir Tra Firearms Simulator.
The participants also met with the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit and was given a demonstration of police canines are used to detect drugs and explosives as well as rescue those in danger. The participants overwhelmingly enjoyed the program and felt that they learned a lot about law enforcement.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps also provided an overview about municipal law enforcement and answered many questions from the clergy. This successful program brought diverse groups from throughout Morris County together. “Programs like these are vital to good relations between law enforcement and citizens”, said Undersheriff William Scheivella who also serves as the President of the NJ Police Community Affairs Officers Association.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office has a number of free community programs for the community which can be requested by government or community groups by calling (973) 285-6600.
List of Morris County Religious Institutions Participating:
Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Parsippany
First Baptist Church of Parsippany
Yogi Divine Society, Parsippany
New Hope Community Church of the Nazzarene, Denville
St. John the Beloved Church, Morris Plains
Parsippany Christian Church
Saint Paul’s Church, Morris Plains
Saint Lukes Catholic Parish, Long Valley
Church of Saint John, Randolph
Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Randolph
Christ Church, Rockaway Township
First Baptist Church, Dover/Rockaway
Morris County NAACP
Salvation Army, Dover
Parsippany Living Waters Church
Iglasia Evangelica Church, Dover
Chabad Center of Randolph
Jewish Community Housing Center, Whippany Presbyterian Church of Morristown
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Wharton
Saint Clement Pope & Martyr Church, Rockaway Township 
