Morris sheriff agrees to jail takeover by freeholders

Morris County Sheriff Edward V. Rochford has reluctantly agreed to relinquish control of the 528-bed county jail to the freeholder board as of Sept. 1.

A month after the freeholders voted to take control of the jail away from Rochford, a “memorandum of understanding” between the freeholders and sheriff was reached and announced at Wednesday’s board meeting, held in Netcong.

The freeholders took the dramatic takeover action on June 24, after battling with the sheriff for a year over financial management of his office, his sole negotiation of labor contracts for officers and civilian workers, and escalating overtime costs at the jail in Morris Township.

Rochford, who had said immediately after the takeover announcement that he was shocked by the decision, told the Daily Record Wednesday night that he reluctantly agreed to the action but will be fully cooperative.

“I’m not in agreement with the memorandum of understand but I’ll live with it. I didn’t want somebody coming in and ruining all the work we’ve done and all five unions wanted me to continue running the jail. I love working with the officers,” Rochford said.

Sheriff since 1993, Rochford has until July 31 to formally sign a contract that will lay out terms of the transition. Although the correctional facility as of Sept. 1 will not directly be under his control, he will have a supervisory role.

The jail is expected to be run on a day-to-day basis by current Warden Christopher Klein. Under the memo of understanding, Rochford will supervise and guide the warden, and advise him on policy, procedure and personnel matters in the day-to-day operations at the facility. Current Undersheriff Joseph Pascale, who is eligible for retirement in less than one year, will be kept on in a capacity at the jail but will not have the title of undersheriff.

The Sheriff’s Office in Morris County has traditionally had two bureaus -- corrections and law enforcement, whose officers protect the county courthouse and serve in units that include warrants, crime scene investigation, K-9 and bomb squad. The Bureau of Law Enforcement is not affected by the jail takeover.

“We are pleased that Sheriff Rochford has agreed to work with the freeholders and will continue to be involved in running the jail, which has long had a positive record of accomplishment and professionalism,” said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.

“It’s in the best interest of county residents that we have been able to work out an agreement with Sheriff Rochford and to have a smooth management transition at the jail,” said Freeholder Douglas Cabana, board liaison to law and public safety.

The county and the sheriff, an elected, constitutional position, were considered “co-employers” of staff at the jail but under the new agreement, the county is the sole employer of all sworn and civilian staff at the facility.

The agreement gives the freeholders full control of finance, labor negotiations and personnel matters.

An unusual condition of the memo of understanding is that all press and social media including Facebook, web pages and other materials for distribution related to the jail must be pre-approved by the county and Bureau of Law Enforcement Undersheriff William Schievella in advance of posting or distribution.

The provision is in apparent response to some postings by Sheriff’s Office staff on the office’s website/Facebook page that were critical of the freeholders.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.