Freeholders Honor Sheriffs' Officers Dunn and Crooker for 25 Years of Service

Published on August 14, 2019

The Morris County Freeholders, along with Assemblyman Anthony Bucco and Sheriff James M. Gannon, this morning honored two two key members of the Morris County Sheriff's Office who recently retired from key posts in the agency after 25 years of service to the county.

Chief Edward Crooker and Detective Capt. Bruce Dunn both started their careers with the county in 1994 as corrections officers at the former county jail in Morristown, and they retired together on July 31 of this year, after rising through the ranks of the Sheriff's Office.

(JPG, 2MB) (l/r) Freeholder Director Doug Cabana, retired Sheriff's officers Chief Ed Crooker and Detective Capt. Bruce Dunn; and Freeholder John Krickus at this morning's event

"Bruce and Ed brought great professionalism, skill and dedication to the Morris County's Sheriff's Office during two outstanding careers. They helped make our Sheriff's Office the best in the state, and they will be greatly missed,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana, who awarded county resolutions to each of the officers.

Assemblyman Bucco and Sheriff Gannon both lauded the officers for their long-term professionalism.

Chief Crooker and Detective. Capt. Dunn worked on some of the highest profile criminal cases in Morris County, including the Funcoland murders at the Roxbury Mall; the murder of 10-year-old Walter Contreras in Morristown; a kidnapping and robbery in Harding; and the murder of Father Edward Hinds at his church in Chatham, among many others. They also both assisted the FBI in the 9 federal terrorism investigation.

(JPG, 1MB) (l/r) Sheriff Jim Gannon, Freeholders Kathy DeFillippo, Stephen Shaw and Doug Cabana; Chief Ed Crooker and Detective Capt. Bruce Dunn; Freeholders Deborah Smith, John Krickus, and Heather Darling; and Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco

Chief Crooker transferred in 1996 to the Bureau of Law Enforcement's Protective Services Division and moved one year later to the Criminal Investigation Section, shining as a CIS Detective before his promotion to Sergeant in 2012. He was named Chief of the Bureau of Law Enforcement on Jan. 2, 2017, and was responsible for day-to-day operations of the Bureau, including crime scene investigations, K-9 Section, SERT Teat, Bomb Squad, and many other key duties.

Detective Captain Dunn transferred in 1996 to the Bureau of Law Enforcement and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Section, where he learned the skills of crime scene processing and investigation. In 2006 he was promoted to Sergeant in Protective Services, and in 2013 to Lieutenant in Internal Affairs, Support Services, and Protective Services. In 2016 he was promoted to Captain and reassigned to CIS, eventually ending his career in the Special Services Division, which included Crime Scene Investigation, Evidence, K-9, Bomb Squad, and the Marine Unit.

Read more about the retiring Sheriff's Officers.