Morris County Recognizes 1st Anniversary of ARRIVE Together Expansion
Published on August 26, 2026
Program De-Escalates Crisis Situations Involving Mental and Behavioral Health Issues
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners recognized the first anniversary of the countywide expansion of the Morris County ARRIVE Together Program during a special presentation tonight by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mental Health Association (MHA).
“ARRIVE Together has become an important partnership between law enforcement and mental health professionals, helping residents experiencing mental and behavioral health crises connect with appropriate care and services,” said Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw. “We commend the Prosecutor’s Office, MHA, our local law enforcement agencies and, especially, the clinicians who work directly with residents and families during some of their most difficult moments.”
ARRIVE stands for “Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation.” Supported by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the Morris County program was established in November 2023 through a partnership between the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and MHA.
The program primarily pairs law enforcement officers with licensed MHA mental health professionals to help de-escalate situations when police receive emergency calls involving people experiencing mental or behavioral health issues. Clinicians can respond alongside or shortly after law enforcement officers to assess the situation, work to avoid a crisis and connect the individuals involved, as well as their families, with appropriate services. Follow up outreach may also be coordinated when an on-scene response is not possible.
As of Aug. 5, 2026, more than 20,000 ARRIVE interactions had been recorded statewide, with Morris County accounting for 3,669 -- the most of any county in New Jersey.
“The partnership of local and county law enforcement, coupled with the resources of the MHA, has proven to be an absolute success,” said Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll. “It enables police responses to have the additional availability of skilled clinicians who can be called upon when an incident presents a situation where a person in crisis can be provided counseling or mental health assistance instead of relying on criminal justice alternatives.”
“I commend Morris County Government and our Commissioners for their support, Meg Rodriguez and Deanna Ackerman, who have spearheaded the ARRIVE Program for us, and Bob Davison, Nadine Venezia and all the MHA clinicians for their dedicated efforts and professionalism,” Carroll said. “Likewise, I wish to thank Sheriff Gannon and Chiefs Association President Miscia, who, with our police chiefs, have welcomed the ARRIVE Together team into their departments with open arms. Thank you all for making this innovative program so successful.”
Prosecutor Carroll, MHA CEO Bob Davison, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez, who serves as the Morris County ARRIVE Coordinator, and MHA ARRIVE Director Deanna Ackerman provided an overview of the program during the presentation. Madison Police Chief John Miscia, president of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon also addressed the Board. They were joined by First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Supervising Assistant Prosecutor LaJuan Tucker, and MHA clinicians Andrea Hammerle, Giulia Licitra and Kimberly Blewett.
In March 2024, the program began with pilot programs in eight municipalities: Morristown, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Madison, Montville, Denville, Parsippany-Troy Hills and Roxbury. Hanover and Randolph were added later that year, and the program expanded throughout the majority of Morris County by July 2025.
“To give some insight into how the program has worked, in a recent incident, an individual climbed to the top floor of a parking garage, called 9-1-1 and indicated a desire to commit suicide,” said CAP Meg Rodriguez. “The Morris County Communications Center dispatched to the town in question, where two officers, along with MHA Clinician Guilia Licitra, responded to the scene. The individual was standing on the ledge and said that if police came up to him, he would go over the edge. With the Guilia’s help, she and the two police officers were able to talk him down and prevent a horrible tragedy.”
In another situation, a clinician responded to a motor vehicle stop involving an autistic driver who refused to leave his vehicle, helping the driver understand and process the situation so police did not have to forcibly remove him. MHA clinicians also have provided support following traumatic incidents, including counseling a group of teen and young adult lifeguards who were unable to save a swimmer from drowning. Other ARRIVE responses have involved substance use, family issues, domestic violence incidents, criminal investigations, grief counseling and connecting vulnerable residents with community resources.
According to Chief Miscia, the use of force for mental health calls has gone down drastically since the implementation of the ARRIVE program. He expressed his appreciation to the clinicians and for the collaboration among all participating agencies.
“The ARRIVE program is essential to the public safety and the mental well-being of Morris County residents,” MHA CEO Bob Davison. “We work together, we respond together and we deal with cases on a case-by-case basis. We get people where they need to go, provide the services they need and give them an opportunity to recover.”
“The program represents the best in public and private partnerships,” said Sheriff Gannon. “Years ago, the only people besides professionals who dealt with people marginalized by mental health issues were cops on the beat and emergency room nurses. Now there is a system in place, and I commend all of you. Morris County does it better.”
The Prosecutor’s Office and MHA also have partnered in supporting the ARRIVE Critical Incident Model, a program that provides access to a qualified mental health professional 24 hours a day, 365 days a year when police respond to certain high-risk incidents involving individuals who may require medical or mental health intervention.
Following the presentation, Director Shaw presented two framed Resolutions of Honor to members of the Prosecutor’s Office and MHA on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, recognizing the first anniversary of the program’s countywide expansion. He commended everyone for their commitment to protecting the public while providing people experiencing mental and behavioral health crises with appropriate care, support and services.
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Photo 1: (l-r) MHA Clinicians Giulia Licitra and Kimberly Blewett; Madison Police Chief John Miscia; Commissioner Doug Cabana; Deputy Director John Krickus; Director Stephen Shaw; MHA ARRIVE Director Deanna Ackerman; Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez; Commissioners Christine Myers and Deborah Smith; MHA Clinician Andrea Hammerle; Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; Morris County Commissioners Tayfun Selen and Tom Mastrangelo; Supervising Assistant Prosecutor LaJuan Tucker; First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood; MHA CEO Bob Davison and Sheriff James Gannon.
Photo 2: (l-r) MHA ARRIVE Director Deanna Ackerman clinicians Kimberly Blewett, , Giulia Licitra. Andrea Hammerle
Photo 3: Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Photo 4: Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez and MHA ARRIVE Director Deanna Ackerman.
Photo 5: Madison Police Chief John Miscia, president of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association.