Morris County Prosecutor’s Office promotes four investigators, swears in new chief and deputy chief
MORRISTOWN (Morris County) — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office promoted four investigative officers and swore in a new chief and deputy chief of detectives during a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 24.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood announced that Mark Castellano was sworn in as chief of detectives and Joseph Costello as deputy chief of detectives. The ceremony was held in the Commissioners’ Public Meeting Room.
Sasha Gould was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to supervise the Professional Standards and Financial Crimes units within the Specialized Crimes Division.
Gould has been a detective with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office since 2013 after beginning her law enforcement career with the New Jersey Transit Police Department in 2009. She has served in the Major Crimes, Professional Standards, Financial Crimes, Intelligence and Homeland Security, and Bias Crimes units.
Gould was promoted to detective supervisor in May 2019 and sergeant in June 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. John’s University and has completed several leadership courses, including the FBI-LEEDA Supervisor, Command and Executive Leadership Institutes Trilogy.
Gould has received several commendations, including the Excellence in Homicide Investigation Award from the New Jersey Homicide Investigators Association for her role in the investigation of the 40-year-old Baby Mary cold case homicide.
Stephanie Merced was promoted to sergeant and assigned to supervise the Domestic Violence and Juvenile/Missing Persons units within the Family Division.
Merced began her law enforcement career in 2009 and joined the prosecutor’s office in 2014. She has served in General Investigations, Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment, Narcotics and the Family Division and has been the lead detective on investigations involving sexual assault, child endangerment, human trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children.
Merced was promoted to detective supervisor in 2017 and has supervised detectives and task force officers, coordinated operations with local, state and federal agencies, served as a Top Gun squad coordinator and helped implement Operation Helping Hand in Morris County.
She also serves as a crisis negotiator, resiliency officer, field training officer, Morris County Public Safety Training Academy instructor and LGBTQ+ law enforcement liaison. According to the prosecutor’s office, Merced became the first detective within a prosecutor’s office to serve as an LGBTQ+ liaison officer and organized Morris County’s inaugural National Coming Out Day event.
Matthew Belcastro was promoted to detective supervisor and assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit within the Family Division.
Belcastro began his law enforcement career with the Chatham Borough Police Department in 2013, serving for more than seven years as a police officer and officer in charge. He joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective in October 2020.
Since then, Belcastro has served in the General Investigations, Major Crimes, Financial Crimes, Professional Standards and Domestic Violence units and was assigned to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Cold Case Task Force.
He also serves as a firearms instructor and armorer, humane law enforcement officer and administrator of the office’s E-Portal Discovery Program. Belcastro holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kutztown University and a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Mark Rodgers was promoted to detective supervisor and assigned to the Special Enforcement Unit within the Special Operations Division.
Rodgers began his law enforcement career with the East Orange Police Department in 2006 and joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective in 2017. His assignments have included the General Investigations, Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment, Major Crimes and Digital Forensics Investigations units.
While assigned to Digital Forensics Investigations, Rodgers developed expertise in digital evidence recovery and analysis and qualified as an expert witness in mobile device technologies. In December 2023, he was assigned to conduct a forensic examination, prepare an expert report and testify in a first-degree armed robbery prosecution that resulted in a guilty verdict and a 50-year state prison sentence.
Rodgers currently serves in the Special Enforcement Unit and as the breacher on the Special Operations Division Tactical Team. He has also served as state delegate for PBA Local 327 since April 2023.
Carroll congratulated the officers on their promotions and expressed confidence in the office’s new leadership.
“The MCPO is fortunate to have the depth of law enforcement experience that is represented by today’s promoted personnel. I am very confident our Office’s supervision and operations will continue at the high level of competency and performance that the MCPO has been known for. Chief Castellano and Deputy Chief Costello have demonstrated those qualities which are needed to lead our talented investigative personnel, as well as maintain beneficial professional relationships among law enforcement agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels. When teamed with our highly skilled legal and support personnel, these leaders and our established associations all serve to maximize the effective protection of our communities from criminal elements. We congratulate all our promoted personnel on their achievements.”
Calderwood added, “We are so thankful to have such dedicated and skilled leaders at the MCPO, as demonstrated in those promoted today. Our office is in good hands with Chief Castellano and Deputy Chief Costello leading the way. Congratulations to them and all promoted, as it is a truly well-deserved recognition of their hard work!”
