Department Divisions

Patrol Division

The Patrol Division is responsible for the preliminary investigation of calls for Police Service, Traffic Enforcement, Accident Investigation, First Aid, Fire calls, Criminal Activity and General Community Service. The division is divided into four patrol squads, each supervised by a sergeant. Each squad consists of two patrolmen and a dispatcher. The four squads are responsible for covering two twelve hour work shifts on a rotating basis, seven days a week. 

The Patrol Division is aided with the use of state of the art technology.  The communications desk uses a Computer Aided Dispatch to ensure vital information is immediately accessible and allows for silent dispatch to calls. Patrol Cars are equipped with Mobile Data Terminals which allows immediate access to the Departments Records Management System.  This enables officers to not only have immediate access to vital information but officers can write and save their reports and other information from their vehicles.  The Mobile Data Terminals also have instant access to national motor vehicle records, warrants, stolen vehicle information, hazardous material information and silent communications capability. Morris Plains is also online with the new Morris County MCIJIS System. MCIJIS enables officers to capture in real time all Morris County police departments records. This invaluable tool will even allow officers to be alerted when other departments are dispatched to certain calls.  The patrol cars also have three separate radio systems.  Beside the departments main radio system, officers can communicate on the Statewide Police Emergency Network (SPEN) and the MIRS network. SPEN allows communication with any department in the state and the new MIRS radio network allows communication with all Morris County law enforcement agencies. Patrol vehicles are also equipped with emergency equipment such as automatic external defibrillators (AED), oxygen, in-car video systems and more.

Detective Bureau

The Detective Bureau is responsible for investigating crimes or offenses reported to or initiated by the Morris Plains Police Department. They follow up all investigations initiated by the patrol division in addition to initiating there own investigations.  They are in charge of all evidence logged into the department and act as the court liaison. They are also in charge of department reports and supervise the Records Bureau. Some of their responsibilities include: General Investigations, Fraud Investigations, Burglary/Theft Investigations, Narcotics Investigations, Juvenile Investigations, ABC Investigations and Bias Crime Investigations.

Support Division

The Support Division serves primarily an administrative function and is invaluable to the function of the department.  They are responsible to provide and maintain the tools needed so officers can do their job in a safe and effective manner. They are also in charge of the Traffic Bureau, school Crossing Guards, training and maintaining the departments SOP's.