Morris Sheriff Gets County Reimbursed for 2018 Presidential Protection Costs

Published on March 07, 2019

The Morris County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a reimbursement of $55,939 in federal funds to cover overtime costs encumbered in 2018 while protecting President Donald J. Trump during his visits to New Jersey.

(JPG, 6KB) Sheriff James M. Gannon

The Sheriff's Office played an integral role in the protection of the President for the duration of his periodic visits New Jersey. In particular, President Trump frequently traveled in and out of Morristown Municipal Airport.

The Sheriff's Emergency Response Team, K9 Section, Motor Unit, Bomb Squad, and Special Operation Group (a tactical medical component) all worked under the direction of the United States Secret Service during the Presidential Protection Details.

On 17 occasions in 2018, the Secret Service specifically requested the assistance of the Morris County Sheriff's Office, as well as several other local police agencies, on protection details as President Trump visited his New Jersey residence.

When these details occurred during normal business hours, the sheriff's officers were assigned at no additional cost to county taxpayers. Where the services went into overtime hours, Sheriff James M. Gannon applied for relief through a federal grant known as the Fiscal Year 2018, Presidential Residence Protection Act.

Throughout 2018, the Sheriff's Office thoroughly tracked the assignment of personnel towards this end, and in late October the office filed for the grant. With the assistance of then Congressman Leonard Lance, the Morris County Sheriff sought federal reimbursement funds for the county. This week, Sheriff Gannon was notified that his application was deemed appropriate for the award of $55,938.

It is truly an honor to be requested by the Secret Service to aid in the protection of the leader of the free world, and I am proud of all of our officers for the exemplary and professional manner in which they carried out these duties, said Sheriff Gannon. But it also was very important to me to seek available relief from the federal government, on behalf of the Morris County taxpayer, so as to not add an undue financial burden to our residents.