Morris County Prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force Honored by New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association

Published on June 01, 2018

On Thursday, June 7, 2018 Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force attended the annual New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (NJNEOA) awards luncheon in Atlantic City. The NJNEOA is an organization which conducts seminars and conferences to educate all who are involved in combatting the illicit drug trade. The NJNEOA recognizes members of law enforcement who display a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and dedication in serving their communities and the State of New Jersey.

The NJNEOA honored the Morris County Prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force with the 2018 NJNEOA Guns, Gangs & Narcotics Law Enforcement Unit Award. Members of this unit who were recipients of this award include Sergeant James Bruno, Sergeant Joseph Costello, Sergeant Jan Monrad, Detective Luis Gomez, Detective Dan Gallagher, Detective/Supervisor Thomas Joiner, Task Force Officer Lucas Echeverri, Task Force Officer George Tsimpedes, Task Force Officer Edward Zienowicz, Task Force Officer Anthony Kelly, and Task Force Officer Stephen Harvey. Detective Lieutenant Lou Sanchez, Detective Constantinos Pagonis, Detective Eric Krouse, and Officer Anthony Gardner of the Mount Olive Township Police and Detective Sergeant Michael Gosden and Detective Robert Koehler of the Rockaway Borough Police Department were also recognized by the NJNEOA for their work on this investigation with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

The award stems from the Special Enforcement Unit's success in the investigation of a heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine drug trafficking organization. The investigation removed fifty-seven (57) bricks of heroin (2,850 folds) and approximately eight (8) ounces of cocaine from the streets of Morris County.

Prosecutor Knapp commended the recipients, The Narcotics Task Force of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office's continued success in removing illicit drugs from the streets of Morris County is something of which we can all be proud. We thank Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Chief Conrad Pepperman of the Rockaway Borough Police Department and Chief Stephen Beecher of the Mount Olive Police Department for the excellent work of their officers and detectives in this joint operation.