MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Three new detectives have joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office following a swearing-in ceremony held June 1, county officials announced.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Deputy Chief of Detectives Jan-Michael Monrad announced the appointments of Detective Dean P. Cerdeira, Detective Christina L. Dimitriou and Detective John M. Simonetti Jr.
Cerdeira will be assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit within the Prosecutor’s Office Tactical Division.
Before joining the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Cerdeira spent the past decade as a detective with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, where he worked in the High-Tech Crimes, Special Victims, Major Crimes and Grand Jury units. He also served as a crime scene investigator, field training officer, member of the Hunterdon County SWAT Team and the county’s Narcotics Task Force. Earlier in his career, he served as a patrol officer with the Winfield Township Police Department.
Cerdeira holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from The College of New Jersey and has completed specialized training in areas including drone operations, fire death investigations, crime scene investigations, narcotics investigations and Internet Crimes Against Children investigations.
Dimitriou will serve in the General Investigations Unit within the Courts and Administration Division.
She began her law enforcement career with the Stanhope Borough Police Department before joining the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office in 2023. While assigned to the Major Crimes and Sex Crimes units, she investigated serious injury and death cases, assisted the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Homicide Unit and served as a supervisor in the Fugitive Unit.
Dimitriou earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Sussex County Community College and has completed specialized training in interviewing techniques, crime scene processing and crisis intervention. She is also a certified resiliency officer.
Simonetti also will be assigned to the General Investigations Unit within the Courts and Administration Division.
Most recently, Simonetti served as a patrol officer and field training officer with the Mount Olive Police Department, where he joined the force in 2020. He also serves as an instructor for Crisis Intervention Team training.
Prior to his law enforcement career, Simonetti served in multiple security and military-related assignments, including positions in Germany, Djibouti, Nebraska and Kuwait.
He holds a master’s degree in cyber and homeland security from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. Simonetti was previously recognized by the Mount Olive Police Department for developing the “Connect and Protect” mental health crisis response program.
Prosecutor Carroll welcomed the three investigators to the agency.
“I welcome these three, highly qualified investigators to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. I believe their skills and experience will serve our office and the people of Morris well.”
