Sheriff's Office adds four deputies
NEWTON — Sheriff Michael F. Strada recently announced the hiring of four new sheriff’s officers in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Law Enforcement.
Justin McCann, 33, of Wantage Township, is a 2000 graduate of High Point Regional High School.
McCann grew up in Sussex County prior to joining the United States Marine Corps in 2000 where he was ultimately promoted to the rank of Sergeant. After deploying once to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completeing the terms of his enlistment, McCann left the Marine Corps in 2004. He returned to Sussex County and began working for the Andover Township Department of Public Works where he remained until being hired by the Sussex County Sheriff’a Office in March.
McCann is a recent graduate of the Passaic County Police Academy and a recipient of the Merit Award. The Merit Award is an award voted on by all recruits within the class and given to the officer they believe has displayed the best performance among them. Sheriff’s Officer McCann is currently assigned to the Courthouse Security and Inmate Transport Unit.
Stephen Peterson, 37, of Hampton Township is a 1995 graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School.
Peterson is a lifelong resident of Sussex County who has been self-employed as a small business owner for almost twenty years. Peterson is currently attending the Morris County Police Academy where he is expected to graduate the 83 Basic Police Class in December 2014. Following his graduation, Peterson will receive a brief period of in-service orientation and training, and will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Inmate Transport Unit.
Mark Williams, 24, of Wantage Township, is a 2002 graduate of High Point Regional High School.
Williams grew up in Sussex County prior to joining the United States Army, New Jersey Army National Guard where he was ultimately promoted to the rank of Specialist. After deploying once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as a Military Police Officer, Specialist Williams returned to Sussex County and accepted a position as a Federal Corrections Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons before being hired by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office.
Williams continues to serve in the New Jersey Army National Guard. A graduate of both the United States Army Military Police School and the United States Army Combat Lifesaver Course, Williams holds an Associates of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Sussex County Community College as well as a Bachelors of Science degree from Thomas Edison University.
He is currently attending the Morris County Police Academy where he is expected to graduate the 83 Basic Police Class in Dec. 2014. Following his graduation, Williams will receive a brief period of in-service orientation and training, and will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Inmate Transport Unit.
Mark Peer, 41, of Branchville, is a 1992 graduate of Montville High School.
Peer grew up in neighboring Morris County before joining the United States Marine Corps in 1993. He served for four years as an active duty Marine and has continued his service in the Marine Corps Reserve where he is has recently been promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant. Following a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009, Peer moved to Sussex County.
He holds certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician, a Hazardous Materials Technician, Customs and Border Clearance Agent, and a Weapons of Mass Destruction Radiation/Nuclear Responder Technician. Also a certified Firefighter, Officer Peer currently serves as a Lieutenant of the Frankford Township Volunteer Fire Department. He is currently attending the Morris County Police Academy where he is expected to graduate the 83 Basic Police Class in December 2014. Following his graduation, Peer will receive a brief period of in-service orientation and training, and will be assigned to the Courthouse Security and Inmate Transport Unit.
The hiring of the officers is necessary to provide the state mandated security for the additional judges that have been assigned to the Sussex County Courthouse.