Morris County Honors Cpl. Erica Valvano on Retirement After 21 Years
Published on August 28, 2025
Sheriff’s Officer Launched Hope One, a Lifesaving Addiction Outreach Program
Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw joined State Sen. Anthony Bucco, Sheriff James Gannon, members of the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement from across the county today to bid farewell to Cpl. Erica Valvano, who retired after more than 21 years of distinguished service with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
A walkout ceremony was held at the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, where Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw presented a framed resolution of honor on behalf of the board. The event included presentations from Sheriff Gannon, Sheriff’s Office leadership and Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, as well as a legislative citation provided on behalf of the 25th Legislative District by State Sen. Anthony Bucco.
View More Photos from the Retirement Walkout Ceremony
“Cpl. Valvano’s 21 years of service stand as an incredible testament to dedication, innovation and compassion. She has been a mentor, a leader and a bridge between law enforcement and the community,” said Deputy Director Shaw. “On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners and the people of Morris County, we thank you, Cpl. Valvano, for your service and wish you joy and peace in the next chapter of life with your family.”
Valvano began her career with the Sheriff’s Office in 2004 in the Protective Services Division, later transferring to Community Outreach and Planning in 2010. In that role, she managed programs including Project Lifesaver, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies accreditation, Crime Stoppers and the Sheriff’s Explorer Post. She rose to the rank of corporal in 2016, continuing her commitment to mentoring young people interested in law enforcement.
Her most notable achievement came on April 3, 2017, when she helped launch the Hope One mobile outreach vehicle, bringing addiction, recovery and mental health services directly into the community. Under her leadership, Hope One grew into a nationally recognized initiative, earning the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Michael Shanahan Award for Public/Private Cooperation. That same year, she received the Community Impact Award from New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement.
Since its launch, Hope One has distributed 11,968 Narcan kits, with 185 reported uses to save or attempt to save lives. The program has also made more than 1,800 referrals to recovery and support services, and its model has been replicated in ten other New Jersey counties.
“Erica is the heart and soul behind Hope One, and her work has forever changed how we address addiction and mental health in Morris County and beyond. Erica has changed the world and is the embodiment of a hero. From a metrics perspective, 61,000 people have encountered the truck in the community, and 185 have been saved off the truck, a lot of from Narcan that has been deployed. And there is the more than 1,800 people who went into programs off the truck,” said Sheriff Gannon.
“Hope One is a trusted program because of Erica and all the people who helped make it possible. Her retirement today is bittersweet, but thanks to the foundation she laid and the dedication of partners like Chelsea Whiting, Justin Sudol, and others, the program will continue to thrive,” he continued.
Valvano also secured a Bureau of Justice grant in 2018 to launch the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), further expanding law enforcement diversion programs.
Her retirement coincided with Morris County’s sixth annual observance of Overdose Awareness Day earlier this morning, underscoring her enduring impact on the fight against opioid addiction.
“Many people go to work every day, but not many get to go to work and save a life. That’s what Erica has done,” said Sen. Bucco. “She took this program and turned it into something recognized internationally because of her guidance — and her hope. At this morning’s Overdose Awareness Day event, we talked about hope, families, and the importance of support for people in recovery. Erica brought that hope to them and showed them what it looks like.”
A resident of Roxbury Township, Valvano lives with her husband, Anthony, and their three children.
Morris County congratulates Cpl. Valvano for more than two decades of dedicated public service. Her contributions to the Sheriff’s Office — and the residents she served —will be remembered for years to come.
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Photo 1: (l-r) Sheriff James Gannon, Cpl. Erica Valvano of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Sen. Anthony Bucco and Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw.
Photo 2: (l-r) Cpl. Erica Valvano, Sheriff’s Officer Chelsea Whiting of the Community Outreach and Planning Section and Sheriff James Gannon.
Photo 3: Cpl. Valvano reaches Sheriff Gannon in the line during her walkout ceremony on Court Street in Morristown. Standing to the sheriff’s right is Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally.