MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — Morris County officials recognized the first anniversary of the countywide expansion of the ARRIVE Together program Wednesday, highlighting a partnership between law enforcement and mental health professionals designed to help de-escalate crisis situations.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners recognized the anniversary during a presentation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mental Health Association.
“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 Prosecutor’s Office and MHA.
The program primarily pairs law enforcement officers with licensed MHA mental health professionals when police receive emergency calls involving people experiencing mental or behavioral health issues. Clinicians can respond with or shortly after officers to assess situations, work to avoid a crisis and connect individuals and their families with appropriate services.
As of Aug. 5, more than 20,000 ARRIVE interactions had been recorded statewide, with 3,669 in Morris County — the most of any county in New Jersey, according to county officials.
“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.”
The program began with pilot programs in Morristown, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Madison, Montville, Denville, Parsippany-Troy Hills and Roxbury in March 2024. Hanover and Randolph were added later that year, and the program expanded throughout the majority of Morris County by July 2025.
During Wednesday’s presentation, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez, who serves as the Morris County ARRIVE coordinator, described a recent response involving a person who had climbed to the top floor of a parking garage and called 911.
“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.”
County officials also cited other situations in which clinicians assisted law enforcement, including a motor vehicle stop involving an autistic driver who refused to leave his vehicle and support provided to teen and young adult lifeguards following a drowning.
According to Madison Police Chief John Miscia, president of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, the use of force during mental health calls has decreased drastically since the ARRIVE program was implemented.
“The ARRIVE program is essential to the public safety and the mental well-being of Morris County residents,” MHA CEO Bob Davison said. “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 James M. 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 partner on the ARRIVE Critical Incident Model, which 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 people who may require medical or mental health intervention.
Following the presentation, Shaw presented two Resolutions of Honor to members of the Prosecutor’s Office and MHA on behalf of the commissioners, recognizing the first anniversary of the program’s countywide expansion.
