By Kevin Coughlin
Former Morris County Sheriff John Fox was remembered on Sunday as an innovator who modernized the department.
“He was a good sheriff. He brought a lot of improvements to the sheriff’s department, a lot of new programs,” said state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-25th Dist.), interviewed at the Morristown Festival on the Green.
Fox passed away on Saturday, after a long illness.
Bucco called his death “really a shock… He was a dear friend, and he will be missed.”
One of the programs Fox introduced was Crimestoppers, said state Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.). It’s a system for rewarding anonymous tipsters who help solve crimes.
“John’s fingerprints are on many things in Morris County, in a great way,” the junior Bucco said.
Morris GOP Chairman John Sette remembered Fox, a former Parsippany policeman who served as sheriff for 18 years, as “the best friend you could ever have.
“He brought the sheriff’s office into the 20th century. And Sheriff Rochford has continued that tradition,” Sette said.
Sheriff Ed Rochford praised his predecessor via Facebook.
“Sheriff Fox laid the foundation for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office to become what it is today, a nationally recognized law enforcement agency,” Rochford said.
At a ceremony last year in Morristown, Rochford praised the former Parsippany councilman and Morris County freeholder as ahead of his time.
“He came in here and started our bomb squad, he started our canine unit, our criminal investigation section… If he didn’t have that vision, we would not be here today with the agency that we have, providing support services to all the municipal police departments here in Morris County, the FBI and the Secret Service,” said Rochford, who defeated Fox in the 1992 Republican primary.
Fox’s son, John Fox. Jr., serves in the East Hanover police department.
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said he met the former sheriff at a couple of events over the years, and they got on well despite hailing from different parties.
“He was always very genuine,” Dougherty said at Sunday’s festival. “He seemed to always have Morris County in his thoughts. From what I understand, he was a great leader. He gave his time and commitment to our community, and to the county. We should all be grateful.”
We will add funeral details when they become available.
