Residents, be advised of approved canvassers in the Borough.

On January 30th, PSE&G contractor “Franklin Energy” will begin conducting door-to-door visits between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM to educate and register customers for a free Quick Home Energy Check-up (QHEC).  This canvassing applies to all PSE&G customers, whether you have gas (probably everyone) or electric (probably no one) service with them.  They ARE subject to the “do not knock” list.

All Franklin Energy employees will check-in with the police department each day, have an ID badge, and will wear a shirt with their cobranded logo.  Since they are checking in with the police department, we will know who the door-to-door persons are and what vehicles they are operating.  This should not stop people from reporting suspicious activity, but if you are going to call, just be aware of this approved activity.

If residents schedule a QHEC, they will participate in a walk-through of their home with an energy adviser, either in person or remotely (using a smartphone). The energy adviser will look at the home and identify areas where it could be wasting energy, this includes gas and electric.  During in-person visits, PSE&G contractor Franklin Energy will install energy-saving products such as LED light bulbs, faucet aerators and smart power strips - at no cost. 

After the assessment, residents will receive a customized report with specific actions they can take to reduce their energy usage and costs. The results of a QHEC assessment could determine their eligibility for the Home Weatherization program which provides up to $7,500 in additional energy efficiency upgrades for income-eligible home owners.  

Thank you.

Please see this important message from Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, Chief Russ Johnson.  This message is supported and echoed by your Chief, Joseph Orlando.

Low Flying / Hovering Helicopter

Please be advised that beginning on or about 1/20/2023, weather permitting, Chesapeake Bay Helicopters will begin performing comprehensive visual inspections on all JCP&L 500kV and 230kV lines. These inspections are expected to take approximately six weeks to complete, however, any storm or outage-related patrols could prolong completion. 

The helicopter will be moving very slowly along each of the transmission lines and will often be seen hovering while carrying out these inspections.  The helicopter to be used is as pictured, white w/ black and red stripes.

Bear info:

Residents, the following message was sent to us by the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife regarding the anticipated spring activity of bears.  We will continue to share information they feel is beneficial for you to know in the coming weeks/months.

"Black bears will begin emerging from their winter dens in New Jersey in March.  At that time of year, berries and acorns have yet to form, leaving bears with limited options for natural food.  As a result, they may travel more to find sufficient food and there is greater potential for bear sightings and encounters.  Although most black bears live in the northwest portion of the state, bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties.  Residents statewide should be familiar with bear safety measures including tips to avoid attracting bears and what to do in case of an encounter.  

In preparation for the spring bear activity period, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife encourages Police Departments to utilize and distribute the following free educational resources to residents:

• Know the Bear Facts English Brochures
• Know the Bear Facts Spanish Brochures
• Know the Bear Facts for Kids Activity Guides
• Bear Facts Camper Cards
• Flyers with QR code for Bear Safety & Education Video

Examples of the literature can be viewed at: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/publications-and-materials/"

Residents,

As we embark upon a new year I wanted to write to all of you to reflect upon the drastic changes our society has undertaken, in recent years, as it relates to public safety, the enforcement of laws, respect for law enforcement officers and the denigration of the rule of law resulting from a lack of consequences for those who commit crimes and victimize the law abiding population of our State.

I enter my 26th year of law enforcement in 2023 with renewed motivation to enact positive change for our residents, our officers and the law enforcement community as a whole. While at times it appears legislative efforts continue to work against us and the law abiding citizens of our State, those of us in law enforcement continue to find positive and effective means to accomplish our goal of community public safety despite the obstacles continually placed in our way.

After the onset of the pandemic we saw significant increases in criminal activity which peaked in 2020 thru 2021 and only slightly declined in 2022. Violent criminals sought to victimize residents of our Borough and our County on what seemed like a nightly basis, some of whom were apprehended after dangerous pursuits, only to be back on the streets the very same day committing additional crimes and victimizing additional members of the law abiding citizenry of our County and our State. Look no further than the events last week of the car thief being picked up from the Morris County Courthouse in a stolen vehicle to then commit a residential burglary of an occupied home and steal a vehicle from the driveway. What will it take for these criminals to be incarcerated for extended periods of time unable to infect society any longer? What could have happened if the career criminal had been confronted in that home burglary by the juvenile resident who was home alone? What kind of violent encounter could have occurred and what could the result have been for that juvenile? Sensationalized questions, I think not. This is what has become the reality for the residents of our communities and for our officers.

A recent article written by FBI Director Christopher Wray states the fundamental duty of law enforcement is to ensure people can live free from fear, a task that has become more challenging in recent years. The article continues to state the top concerns for law enforcement are gangs terrorizing communities, stolen vehicles, carjackings and residential burglaries. All of which, with the exception of carjackings, have occurred in Florham Park within the last three years. Make no mistake about it, the individuals committing motor vehicle burglary, residential burglary and motor vehicle theft in this community are dangerous, weapon wielding, gang affiliated criminals. Director Wray concluded his article by indicating too many repeat offenders are out on the streets and that policing is becoming increasingly dangerous while officers are being continually asked to take on increasingly complex issues. Director Wray hammered home his point with the statistical horror that a police officer in this Country is feloniously murdered once every six days. Ponder that statistic for a moment, one police officer in this Country is murdered every six days. That is an alarming number for those involved in law enforcement but also for law abiding citizens everywhere. A change must occur for lawful society to endure and it has to begin now. Support from the resident populations throughout the State must be heard consistently in order to effect positive change.

Our Borough’s population continues to increase annually. What was a sleepy bedroom community of approximately 8,500 residents when my career started in 1997 has now swelled to an anticipated 2021 population of 13,149 residents, according to the Morris County Municipal Population Estimates of 2021, see link below; https://www.morriscountynj.gov/files/sharedassets/public/departments/planning-amp-preservation/1-3-23-pop-estimates-2021.pdf

The greater the population the greater the number of potential victims available to those criminal elements seeking to victimize our community. The State of New Jersey continues to increase the responsibilities and requirements of law enforcement officers on an annual basis further straining the resources currently available. We need the support of our residents now more than ever to assist in maintaining overall community safety. As I stated earlier, I and the officers I represent have a renewed motivation and committed dedication to overcome all obstacles in providing the safest community for our residents and visitors to live, work and visit this great Borough. Please join us in our efforts by being the force multipliers we require in our neighborhoods, by caring about your neighbors and watching out for their well-being, by reporting any suspicious behavior, person or vehicle immediately and most of all by remembering our officers are focused every single day on the health and safety of our community.

While our Department’s Vision Statement begins, “With Community Policing as our Foundation,” our officers have been instructed to increase their community engagement to better serve our growing population. I ask every resident to please make the effort and take the time to engage with our officers, to become a part of who we are and remember, “The police are the public and the public are the police,” (Sir Robert Peel).

Please stay safe and vigilant!

Joseph Orlando
Chief of Police
January 16, 2023

Residents, while we wanted to be sure this great arrest by our nearby law enforcement partners is relayed to you, because it was a great investigative effort by Morris Township Police Department and many other cooperating agencies, we want to make you aware that the individual arrested for the crimes in the attached release, Mr. Tysean Ware, age 20 of Newark, was arrested by this agency in 2021, at age 18, for similar crimes.  During that crime, he stole a car in broad daylight from a home in Florham Park and led us and others on a pursuit, too dangerous for us to continue, where he eventually crashed in Millburn and was apprehended by assisting agencies in Essex County.  He was convicted of those crimes and sentenced to “Recovery Court”, aka “drug court”, by a Superior Court Judge against the advice of the Prosecutor’s Office.  Recovery Court, by its very definition, is a “cost-effective solution to address non-violent crime related to drug and alcohol dependency.”

On July 7, 2022, Mr. Tysean Ware was again arrested while on Probation and in “Recovery Court” (immediate probation violation) following several motor vehicle pursuits in stolen vehicles used in ARMED CARJACKINGS AND ROBBERIES (https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/essex/police-fire/carjackers-who-led-wild-route-78-pursuit-had-heroin-firearms-three-magazines-police/837171/).  Still, he was on the streets this past Tuesday and free to commit more crimes.  In the press release from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office (https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Prosecutor/Prosecutor-Press-Releases/Morris-County-Residential-Burglary-Auto-Theft-Arrest-and-Stolen-Vehicle-Recovery), you can read how he was leaving his Recovery Court Probation meeting when he was picked up outside the Courthouse in a stolen car used in other area burglaries, then broke into a home in Morris Township that was actively occupied by a juvenile, where Mr. Ware stole keys from inside the home and fled in a vehicle he just stole from their driveway… allegedly, of course.  But wait, there’s more!  The next day, Wednesday, he led Officers from other agencies on a pursuit in this stolen vehicle and rammed a Secaucus Police car in the process… allegedly.  He faces criminal charges there as well.  He is now in jail, again, but who knows for how long?

Residents, law enforcement is doing the best it can, but we face obstacles.  Stay vigilant, stay safe, lock up, keep an eye on your neighbors’ homes and cars, and continue to report suspicious activity to us.

Click here to sign up for the new community alert notification system

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.