MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday the expansion of the ARRIVE Together program to 25 additional municipalities, bringing nearly all of Morris County into the statewide initiative aimed at improving law enforcement responses to mental and behavioral health emergencies.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Mental Health Association (MHA) CEO Bob Davison made the joint announcement, noting that this marks the fourth rollout of the program in the county.
New municipalities joining the program include Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Chester, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Harding Township, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mount Arlington, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, Pequannock, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Washington Township, and Wharton. Mount Olive Township offers similar services through a separate federal grant.
ARRIVE Together, short for “Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence & Escalation,” pairs municipal police departments with mental health professionals from the MHA of Essex and Morris Counties to respond to individuals in crisis. Clinicians either arrive alongside officers or shortly after, and continue to provide follow-up support for individuals and families. Services include mental health referrals, substance use treatment, grief counseling, and housing assistance.
“This program ensures the safety of everyone involved in a civilian-officer interaction,” Carroll said. “By connecting people in crisis to appropriate services, we are improving outcomes and building community trust.”
In addition to the traditional ARRIVE Together response, Morris County also implemented the ARRIVE Critical Incident Model under Attorney General Directive 2024-04, which ensures 24/7 access to mental health professionals for incidents involving barricaded individuals in need of intervention.
Since the program launched in Morris County in November 2023, more than 1,200 interactions have taken place, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. The initiative is supported through a state budget appropriation and overseen by the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR).
“ARRIVE Together partnerships have made New Jersey a national model for changing the way we respond when law enforcement intersects with behavioral health emergencies,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
Morris County law enforcement officials say they plan to continue expanding outreach and education about the program in schools, community groups, and public forums.
