Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Robert McNally retires after more than 30 years in law enforcement
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Robert McNally has retired after more than 30 years in law enforcement, concluding a career that included service as a federal officer and more than two decades with the Prosecutor’s Office.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morris County Police Chiefs Association, municipal police departments and county officials gathered for a walk-out ceremony for McNally at the Morris County Administration Building.
“Chief Bob McNally has had a distinguished career of achievement, dedication and integrity that has set an example for all citizens and especially law enforcement personnel that will serve as a model to all. Having served in this profession for decades, I have had the honor of working with many highly skilled and principled police officers. I can attest that Bob is one of the finest persons I have ever worked with and demonstrated every day his courage, skills, and most importantly, his compassionate humanity. Bob’s expansive knowledge of violent crime investigations, complex conspiracies and corrupt activities provided a strong foundation that enabled his universal recognition as a consummate law enforcement leader admired and respected by all. I personally, along with the entire MCPO family and indeed Morris County government, will miss Bob but we all wish Bob, his wife Sarah and family much success in the next chapter of their admirable lives,” Carroll said.
McNally is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served as a sniper team leader in a Marine Corps infantry battalion. He completed three deployments before being honorably discharged in 1994.
He began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the U.S. Customs Service in Newark. During his federal career, McNally made arrests and seizures involving federal narcotics and currency laws and received numerous recognitions, including for his direct involvement in a $1 million currency seizure related to narcotics smuggling.
McNally joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective in 2003, initially serving in the Intelligence Unit and Professional Standards/Internal Affairs Unit.
In 2005, he was reassigned to the Major Crimes Unit, where he spent approximately 12 years working on investigations involving homicides, bank robberies, suspicious deaths, fatal fires and police-involved shootings.
McNally was named Morris County Detective of the Year by the Morris County Detectives Association in 2007 for his work as lead detective on a homicide investigation involving human remains discovered in a remote area of the county.
He was promoted to sergeant in 2011 and lieutenant in 2013. McNally later oversaw operations involving professional standards, financial crimes, missing persons, juvenile and domestic violence investigations.
In August 2016, McNally was promoted to captain. He was promoted to deputy chief of investigations in June 2021, overseeing approximately 68 sworn law enforcement members and the day-to-day investigative operations of five investigative divisions.
Carroll promoted McNally to chief of detectives in February 2023. In that role, he was responsible for the office’s investigative division and served as a direct point of contact for 37 Morris County police departments, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police and federal law enforcement partners.
“I have had the honor of working with Chief Bob McNally for the past 23 years. He has always been a talented, dedicated detective whose work made the Morris County community safer and brought closure to countless victims of crime and their families. In the most recent years, I have enjoyed working at his side in this Administration. With no exaggeration, every day I witnessed Bob’s leadership skills employed with wisdom and integrity. While the detectives certainly prospered under his guidance as Chief of Detectives, his positive impact reached to all staff across the office. Thank you, Bob, for your decades of exceptional work, leadership, and friendship. Enjoy your well-earned retirement!” Calderwood said.
Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon also reflected on McNally’s career.
“Chief Bob McNally has always embodied the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. I had the privilege of serving alongside Bob during my time as Deputy Chief, and I witnessed firsthand his exceptional intelligence, congenial disposition, and relentless tenacity. His skill in investigating major crimes, including complex death investigations, set a benchmark for excellence. Bob’s pride in his service as a United States Marine is evident in the discipline, honor, and dedication he brings to every endeavor, and I commend him deeply for that service. Above all, Bob is a devoted family man whose compassion enriches everyone around him. I wish him nothing but the very best—without question, we are better people because of Bob,” Gannon said.
Madison Police Chief John Miscia, the 2026 president of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, also praised McNally’s service.
“Chief Bob McNally has been a great friend, a respected colleague, and a tremendous member of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association. Bob is an exceptional law enforcement professional and a fierce investigator who has always led by example. He has represented the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the law enforcement profession with dignity, professionalism, and integrity, and he is held in the highest regard by his colleagues throughout Morris County and beyond. His contributions to the profession and to the law enforcement community will be greatly missed. On behalf of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, I congratulate Bob, and his family, on his retirement and thank him for his dedicated service and friendship,” Miscia said.
In addition to his command responsibilities, McNally has served as a firearms instructor and hostage and crisis negotiator and was a member of the Tactical Narcotics Team. He is also a member of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation and a bagpiper with the Morris County Police Pipes and Drums.
McNally is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association courses. He also completed Crisis Mental Health Intervention Training and numerous supervisory, management and tactical courses.
McNally is married to his wife, Sarah, a career Morris County Prosecutor’s Office employee, and they have three sons.
