Sheriff James M. Gannon

Sheriff James M. Gannon Sheriff James M. Gannon, the 77th Sheriff of Morris County, was elected to his first, three-year term in 2016, and was sworn in on January 2, 2017. Sheriff Gannon was re-elected to his third term in 2023, and currently is in the seventh year of his position.

Sheriff Gannon is focused on:

  1. Partnering with local, county, state and federal public safety agencies to keep neighborhoods, schools, houses of worship and businesses safe;
  2. Combating illegal drugs like fentanyl;
  3. Protecting Seniors from Consumer Fraud;
  4. Restoring financial accountability and responsibility to the Sheriff’s Office.

In the first 100 days of his administration, Sheriff Gannon partnered with non-profit entities to develop the life-saving program Hope One, a mobile substance use and mental health disorder outreach that stops in communities to provide free Narcan training and Naloxone kits, and access to addiction recovery and mental health programs.

Sheriff Gannon in 2017 opened the “Hope Wing” at the Morris County Correctional Facility which assists inmates with substance use disorders and helps them repair relationships, manage anger, spiritually grow and access education.

In partnership with the Morris County Police Chiefs’ Association, Sheriff Gannon in 2018 founded the comprehensive RSVP-3 program that has trained law enforcement officers, educators and mental health experts on how to gauge potential threats to school safety.  The RSVP-3 program led to creation of a mobile phone app that students, or anyone, can use to report concerning behavior that potentially could result in violence.

Jim grew up in Boonton Township in an Irish and Polish Catholic family with two brothers and one sister, who were all raised by his father, mother and grandmother.  His passion for law enforcement came from his father, who was a New York City Police Detective.  Gannon graduated Boonton High School where he played sports and also was a member of the Boonton Township Fire Service.

Gannon earned his Associate’s degree in Law Enforcement from County College of Morris, and then his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from William Paterson University.  After graduation, Gannon started out as a Patrolman in his hometown of Boonton Township, and then Boonton, followed by service as Deputy Chief of Investigations at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI’s elite Joint Terrorism Task Force and Morris County-based Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he retired as the Global Head of Security Risk.

Along the way, Gannon graduated from the FBI National Academy, earned a Certificate in Supervisory Management from Rutgers and a Masters of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

During his decorated, 39-year career in law enforcement and security, Gannon served as Commander of the FuncoLand Homicide Task Force and the Walter Contreras Homicide Task Force, formed the Morris County Cold Case Unit, co-authored the “Morris County Counter-Terrorism Task Force Manual,” and has lectured and trained fellow professionals, and conducted investigations, in places like Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand and Uzbekistan, uniquely preparing him for the day-to-day battle to protect Morris County citizens from terror attacks and other crimes.

In addition to his professional career in law enforcement and security, Gannon has given back to the surrounding communities in other ways, including as current President of the 200 Club of Morris County, Adjunct Professor at Centenary College, Life Member of the New Jersey State PBA # 327, Co-Founder of the Morris County Chapter of the Emerald Society of the State of New Jersey, and as a Drum Major in the Police Pipes & Drums of Morris County to name just a few.

Gannon was married to his wife, Lisa, for 26 years before losing her in 2010 after a courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis.  Jim and Lisa had one daughter, Kate who, along with her husband Matt, are parents to son Luca and daughter Ella. Jim is a lifelong resident of Morris County and lives in Boonton.