On Thursday December 14, 2023, Prosecutor Robert Carroll joined Mental Health Association (MHA) Chief Executive Officer Bob Davison, Chief John Miscia of the Madison Police Department, Chief Andrew Caggiano of the Montville Police Department, Chief Darnell Richardson of the Morristown Police Department, Chief Michael Koroski of the Morris Plains Police Department and Chief Robert Shearer of the Morris Township Police Department at the 2nd Anniversary of the ARRIVE Together Program. In addition to celebrating the successes of the ARRIVE Together Program, this event marked the first formal event for the ARRIVE Together- Morris teams.
ARRIVE Together, which stands for “Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation” partners law enforcement with mental health providers to respond to 911 calls relating to mental and behavioral health emergencies. The program started as a co-response program in Cumberland County and as of December 2023, has rolled out statewide to all 21 New Jersey Counties with models that include co-response, close-in-time response, telehealth, and follow-up programs. The goal of the program is to increase connections to mental health services, while reducing arrests, use of force injuries to civilians and officers, and improving trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The ARRIVE Together Anniversary was hosted by the Office of the Attorney General and included speeches by Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew Platkin. The program is funded by the State of New Jersey.
Morris County’s program consists of two separate pilots where mental health providers will arrive shortly after law enforcement responds to a mental or behavioral health call. Once law enforcement deems the scene safe, the mental health clinician from MHA will speak to the caller to help divert them to appropriate services. Thereafter, MHA will conduct follow up with that individual as well as others who are referred to the program to connect them to services.
The ARRIVE Together – Morris program will begin in eight (8) Morris County towns who will share the services of MHA. The first pilot program consists of Madison, Morristown, Morris Plains, and Morris Township. The second pilot program consists of Denville, Montville, Parsippany, and Roxbury. The program is expected to run Monday through Friday, 7 am through 11 pm. Any calls that law enforcement responds to after these service hours will be referred to MHA as part of their follow-up program, with the intent to ensure that the individuals who were in crisis are linked with services and agencies to assist them in managing their needs. The programs are in the finalization stages and are expected to formally begin in January 2024.
The Mount Olive Township Police Department, who was awarded a separate Connect and Protect Federal Grant, is expected to be providing similar services within the next few months as well. Ultimately, the goal of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is to expand the program to all of Morris County so that every resident has the ability to be safely connected to providers to assist them with their behavioral health needs while avoiding criminalizing acts that are driven by mental health conditions.
Also in attendance at the Anniversary Event were Morris County Prosecutor’s Office First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Deputy Chief Jan Monrad, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez, and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor LaJuan Tucker. They were joined by Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, Morristown Public Safety Director Michael Corcoran, Morristown Lieutenant Chris Oakley, Madison Captain Joseph Longo, Montville Sergeant Scott McGowan, Morris Plains Lieutenant Robert Guild, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Community Connections Officer Juston Sudol, MHA Directors Deanna Ackerman and Achille Dejean, and CIT International Executive Director Bart Oates.
Prosecutor Robert Carroll said, “I believe the ARRIVE Together program holds much promise, and law enforcement’s participation in the program demonstrates the willingness of law enforcement to try alternative interventions that may help calm situations that are tense and combative, and help keep everyone safe. In addition, the program has the important component of a follow through plan, so that individuals in crisis may receive help after a situation is resolved. A program of this type would not be possible without the experience and knowledge from our providers at the Mental Health Association. I would like to specifically thank Chief Executive Officer Bob Davison, and MHA Directors Deanna Ackerman and Achille Dejean, for partnering with us. Also, I would like to recognize Morris County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor LaJuan Tucker for being the lead coordinators of this program with the county and the state.”