Residents,

I wanted to write to all of you prior to the weekend in an effort to keep residents apprised of incidents occurring within the Borough.

The Police Department began placing additional officers on the roadways during weekend hours, prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday, in an effort to curb driving under the influence and the dangers associated with the same.  The patrols were successful in removing two drivers from the roadways for driving under the influence and fortunately no accidents reported within the Borough were associated with this behavior and only one minor accident was reported at all.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the State was not as fortunate as thirteen (13) fatalities were reported during the Thanksgiving weekend.   Overall the traffic related fatalities for 2021, in the State of NJ, has reached 625 which is an 18% increase from 2020.  I implore our residents to take heed of these numbers and practice safe driving behaviors at all time.  We are going to continue our increased patrols through the end of the year in an effort to locate and remove drivers from the roadways who are driving under the influence.

Motor vehicle burglaries and thefts continue to be a major concern for our department.  Our patrols have chased two suspect vehicles from our residential areas within the past week who were attempting to burglarize and/or steal motor vehicles during the afternoon hours.  This behavior has increased in frequency within the surrounding communities and will only get worse as long as residents continue to present viable targets by leaving vehicles unlocked, by leaving key fobs within their vehicles and leaving valuables within vehicles.  Residents must be vigilant, especially now during the Holiday Season, and refrain from leaving valuables within their vehicles or leaving vehicles and residences unsecured while making quick trips within the Borough.  Please report any and all suspicious activity, vehicles and/or persons to the Police immediately.  Do not second guess yourself, if you feel something is suspicious report it immediately.

Lastly, the members of the Police Department participated in No Shave November in an effort to bring awareness to and raise money for cancer research.  There has been a push throughout the State to continue the effort in what is being termed Don’t Shave December to raise money for the NJ Special Olympics.  The members of the Florham Park Police Department have decided to participate and raise money for this worthy cause.  Residents wishing to make donations can do so at the address below:

Special Olympics New Jersey
1 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Way
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Attn: Jason Schubert

Stay Safe,
Joseph Orlando
Chief of Police
December 3, 2021

Residents,

I’m writing to you all for two reasons, first to provide information regarding the police department’s response to an incident on Brooklake Road yesterday and secondly the Florham Alert this morning which many of you have commented on.

First, in regards to yesterday’s police response to an incident on Brooklake Road, I want to dispel any misinformation which may be driving several negative comments about the community.  A Florham Park Patrol Officer, while patrolling Brooklake Road, observed a vehicle parked in the lane of travel with its hazard lights engaged.  The patrol officer asked the driver of the vehicle if they were ok and left the scene upon being told by the driver that he was ok.  Unbeknownst to the patrol officer, an off-duty Florham Park Police Officer, travelling on Brooklake Road, observed the same vehicle and called the dispatch desk to report a disabled vehicle in the lane of travel on Brooklake Road.  Dispatch, being unaware of the initial patrol officers communication with the driver, dispatched another patrol officer to check the disabled vehicle.  The second officer arrived on scene shortly thereafter to ensure the safety of the driver, the roadway and the vehicle.  The second officer subsequently left the area after learning the driver and vehicle were safe and the roadway was clear.  I applaud our initial officer for diligently patrolling the Borough and engaging a potential motorist in distress to ensure the motorist, his vehicle and the roadways are safe for all of those within and traveling through Florham Park.  Furthermore, I applaud our off-duty officer for being observant and concerned while in an off-duty capacity to take the time to contact the dispatch desk to report the potential motorist in distress, as well as the potential road hazard.  So often observed events go unreported to the police to the detriment of all within the community. It’s a testament to our agency’s commitment to the safety of our community that our officers are present and engaged both on and off-duty within the community.  It is very unfortunate that good intentions were vilified in this incident.

Secondly, regarding a Florham Alert reporting “Actors” attempting to break into a vehicle early this morning.  I apologize the word “Actors” has had such a negative effect on some in the community.  “Actors” whether the term agrees with you or not, is a term used often in the law enforcement field to describe individuals engaged in or believed to be engaged in criminal activity.  Should this be of significant concern to you or offensive in any way, feel free to contact me directly and I will be happy to discuss the same with you.  My direct number is 973-410-5440.

Stay safe!!

Joseph Orlando
Chief of Police
November 18, 2021

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AlertFlorhamPark will allow you to get emergency notifications in any manner you choose, including phone, email, text, or social media, so you can stay informed during major storms or other emergencies taking place in Florham Park or throughout Morris County. Users have the ability to enter multiple addresses located in multiple jurisdictions within a single profile. If you care for a loved one who lives in another Morris County town and want to be notified of issues affecting that person’s municipality, your one registration process will satisfy that need.

AlertFlorhamPark also offers a free Smart911 signup option for county residents, providing a greatly enhanced and potentially lifesaving 9-1-1 emergency call service for anyone who registers for it.

Smart911 is FREE, and your information is secure, accessible only to a 9-1-1 call taker. This service can provide key information to responders that can make your family safer. For example:

• Address Details: How to access your home, number of bedrooms, location of utility shut-offs, and if you live in a multi-family building;
• Family Details: Number of residents, ages, photos of children, and your landline and mobile phone numbers;
• Medical Information: Medical conditions of certain residents, medications taken/required, allergies, mobility of residents, and if special equipment is needed in an emergency;
• Animals: A list of your pets, service animals and livestock, and their names so responders are aware of them as they enter your home. Also, include the name of your veterinarian;
• Emergency Contacts: Family members, friends or neighbors to be contacted in case of an emergency;
• Vehicles: Make, model and license plate number in case of a motor vehicle accident.

Residents can offer as much or as little information to first responders through Smart911 as they wish.