MORRIS COUNTY —Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crimes Unit hosted a live webinar on Monday, May 11, 2020. The webinar, part of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s 21/21 Community Policing Project, sought to update law enforcement, school administrators, and the community at large about bias crimes and how to report suspected incidents. The first live webinar of its kind during this emergency, the event was attended by 130 registered participants.

Morris County Prosecutor Knapp began the event by recognizing the unprecedented times we are living in, and how law enforcement is adjusting to the surge in online communication.  He also addressed the importance of teaching our young people the lessons learned from the genocide perpetrated during World War II and thereafter.

Middlesex County Department of Corrections and Youth Services Chief Investigator and President of the New Jersey State Bias Crimes Officers Association, David D’Amico, gave the keynote presentation. During his presentation, Chief D’Amico explained the difference between a bias crime and a bias incident, and outlined what to expect once a bias incident is reported. Chief D’Amico stressed the importance of community partnerships between community and civic organizations, faith-based stakeholders and state, county and local law enforcement to effectively address bias incidents. As the president of the New Jersey State Bias Crimes Officers Association, he introduced the organization and what it does for New Jersey citizens.  On behalf of that Association, Chief D’Amico presented an award to Prosecutor Knapp in recognition of work done by the MCPO to fight Bias Crime.

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Supervisor Patrick LaGuerre and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Samantha DeNegri shared their extensive experience with covering bias crimes and offered tips on how to recognize these issues in school systems. Prior to the emergency declaration, Detective Supervisor LaGuerre and SAP DeNegri held numerous presentations at Morris County middle and high schools, educating students on how to properly report incidents of bullying and exercise good judgment when it comes to what you post online or share with friends.

Participants asked questions of the panelists, especially about how bias incidents are handled by school districts and how to report suspected incidents. Detective Supervisor LaGuerre and SAP DeNegri said the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has trained members of local police departments and school districts on how to process such reports.

Prosecutor Knapp said “I am deeply honored and humbled by the recognition bestowed today by Association President David D’Amico for the work of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in making Bias Crime enforcement and education a priority.  As David said, we have made educating our youth and others in the County a cornerstone of this administration.”

PARSIPPANY — The volunteers of “Parsippany Supporting Our Town” delivered 50 meals to the women and children at Jersey Battered Women’s Service. They also gave them Chocolates and roses. We are sure it made their day a little better.

To request a meal/volunteer/donate click here.

JBWS is a private, nonprofit agency that provides safety, support, and solutions for abuse for anyone who lives or works in primarily Morris County, and faces the issues of intimate partner abuse.

Their mission is the prevention of domestic violence through the protection and empowerment of the victim, the rehabilitation of family members, the advocacy for social reform to prevent partner violence, and the education of the public about domestic violence and its consequences.

In 1976, a small group of women in Morris County began a helpline to aid victims of domestic violence. When two of these callers were murdered by their husbands, the need for a confidential shelter became urgent.

From its grass-roots beginnings, Jersey Battered Women’s Service opened its shelter doors to the community in late December 1978.

Today, the agency has grown into a full-service, private, nonprofit domestic violence agency with programs that provide safety, support, and solutions for all survivors of abuse. The services include 24-hour helpline; safe house; counseling for adults, adolescents and children impacted by abuse; transitional living, including life skills education and vocational counseling; legal advocacy; batterer’s intervention; teen dating violence prevention services; training for professionals; and community awareness and engagement programs.

24-Hour Helpline & Referral: (877) R.U.ABUSED or (877) 782-2873.

MORRIS COUNTY — Recent reports show that 50 percent of all New Jersey COVID-19 deaths have occurred in the state’s long-term care facilities, which has prompted New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio to once again call for an immediate investigation by a Senate Select Oversight Committee.

“We have learned that 4,800 poor souls lost their lives in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities,” said Senator Pennacchio (R-26).  “These facilities fall under the direct regulatory oversight of the State of New Jersey’s Department of Health.  It makes no sense to order those facilities to accept all patients, regardless of whether they were COVID-19 infected, and impose a ban on virus testing on patients entering those facilities, yet the department did exactly that. Ultimately, it wound up adding to the devastation these long-term nursing homes have experienced.”

The Senator today introduced a resolution that would establish a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on the Executive Branch’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must do our due diligence as elected state representatives to question and evaluate the Administration’s response, and we must do it immediately,” emphasized Pennacchio.

The bipartisan committee, with six members from the Senate, would investigate the cause and effects of the pandemic on New Jersey’s people and its economy, and the administration’s handling of those events. Committee would develop strategies to improve state response to future outbreaks and other statewide emergencies.

“I stand ready to contribute to a Senate Select Oversight Committee and suggest we begin as soon as possible,” said Pennacchio, citing the United States Senate, and the Governor’s daily briefings as exampled of elected officials be able to meet during the crisis.”

This weekend, NJ.com published a piece citing the state’s COVID-19 dashboard that indicated 4,825 of the State’s fatalities occurred in nursing homes, nearly 50% of the total deaths statewide.

New Jersey’s long-term care facilities are home to 61,000 vulnerable seniors, or 0.67 percent of the state’s 9 million population, yet they account for half of New Jersey’s coronavirus deaths.  The Garden State leads all states in the nation in nursing home fatalities.  Florida with a population of 22 million people has experienced 1/10 the nursing home deaths.

MORRIS COUNTY — In a heartfelt, emotional showing of support, several members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office PBA Local 327 participated in a parade on May 7 to recognize Nurses Week. The event was organized by the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Finance Chairman Ryan Dawson, and Grand Marshall Mary Waller. The Parade of Our Heroes proceeded from Morristown Town Hall parking lot to Morristown Medical Center. Many nurses and other healthcare workers watched as a caravan of Police, Fire and Emergency Services vehicles saluted them with flashing lights, sirens and honking horns. Several bagpipers also accompanied the caravan of vehicles.

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker applauded the agency’s role in the festive event: “The nurses and other healthcare workers have put their lives on the line for our protection. We are proud to salute their service on this special day.”

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Rite Aid Store, 480 North Beverwyck Road, will begin testing for COVID-19 starting Monday, May 11.

Testing will be done through the pharmacy’s drive-through only. Rite Aid nationally is working with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and is standing up mobile COVID-19 testing sites around the country, with the approval of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Other key points below MUST be followed for the health and safety of others:

• Testing will begin on Monday, May 11.
• Testing is by appointment only by clicking here. The appointments will begin on Sunday morning.
• You must be in a car to be tested; at this time, no walk-ups are being accepted.
• If you’re coming to Rite Aid to be tested, you will not be permitted inside the store itself. You must stay in your vehicle.
• Rite Aid recently expanded its testing criteria. Testing is now open to anyone over the 18+ even if they’re asymptomatic.
• An Rx from a doctor or health care provider will not be required.
• Testing is free of charge to patients. Patients will not be asked to enter insurance information.
• Patients will arrive and come through the pharmacy drive-through, where they will receive a test through the drive-through drawer. Testing will be completed in the confines of the patient’s car, sealed by the patient, and then handed back to the Rite Aid pharmacists through the drawer.
• Rite Aid will still be utilizing the self-swab nasal tests.
• At present, each site will have the ability to conduct 50 tests per day.

There is no direct ask of Parsippany, and everything is done at no cost to the municipality, county, and the State of New Jersey.

For more information, please call (973) 334-4343, and press option #3 to be directed to the Pharmacy Department.

PARSIPPANY — Memorial Day is one of our nation’s most important commemorations, as we honor those brave men and women who have fallen in the service of our armed forces. In light of current circumstances, we will not be holding our usual Memorial Day services this year.

Instead, Parsippany-Troy Hills will be recording a Memorial Day ceremony to be broadcast to the public on the morning of Monday, May 25. With safety and social distancing a top priority of production, we are planning a beautiful ceremony that will match the in-person observances we’ve held for years.