MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit (MCSOGIU) hosted its 25th annual Gang Awareness & Identification Training Seminar this week, bringing together law enforcement officers and gang prevention experts for two days of education and collaboration.
Held at Saint Elizabeth University and co-sponsored by the university’s Criminal Justice Police Studies Institute, the New Jersey Commission of Investigation, Gang Suppression Through Educational Programs (GSTEP), and the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), the free seminar was open to law enforcement personnel across the region.
This year’s program featured international speakers including Steve Dudley, co-founder of “InSight Crime”; Margarito Flores, founder of “From Kingpin to Educator”; William Edrozo, president of the Southern California Gang Conference; and retired ATF Special Agent Billy Queen.
Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon opened the seminar by recognizing the unit’s 25 years of contributions to gang prevention and correctional safety. During the event, the MCSOGIU was honored with commemorative plaques by the New Jersey Commission of Investigation and MAGLOCLEN.
The MCSOGIU was founded in 2000 following the opening of the Morris County Correctional Facility. The unit was established by Correctional Police Officers William McCool, Justin Gabrys, and Edwin L. Santana to identify and monitor inmates affiliated with criminal organizations or extremist ideologies. Under the leadership of retired Lt. Dave Mauro and Sgt. James O’Brien, the unit developed a comprehensive intelligence-sharing program to maintain safety within the facility and beyond.
Initially offering training in small classroom settings, the MCSOGIU has expanded its educational reach, evolving into a key regional resource for gang awareness and prevention. Today, a new generation of specialists leads the unit, continuing to provide proactive training to law enforcement agencies across the Northeast.
