Spotlight On: Chief Joseph A. Devine

Chief Joseph A. Devine has twenty-seven years of experience in public administration and law enforcement including eight years as a Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Additionally, he has over eight years of experience as a college professor and is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Chief Executive Law Enforcement Officer. Joseph is also a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in 1995 and the FBI National Academy in 1999.

Joseph Devine began his law enforcement career in 1979 as an officer with the Morris County Sheriff's Department in New Jersey, becoming a detective with the Bureau of Criminal Identification. He became an investigator for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office in 1981, assigned to the Special Investigative Section. Chief Devine left the prosecutor's office in 1981 to join the Rockaway Township Police Department, climbing the ranks to sergeant in 1985, lieutenant in 1990, captain in 1992 and chief on July 1, 1998.

Under his leadership as chief, the Rockaway Township Police Department dramatically reduced crime due to his emphasis of community policing. Chief Devine implemented the Cops in Schools program within the Rockaway Township Schools and the Morris Hills Regional School District. He also expanded the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the schools. From January 2002 - July 2006, Joseph was Chief of Investigations for the Morris County Prosecutors Office in Morristown, New Jersey. He oversaw an office of 175 employees responsible for the investigation and prosecution of indictable crimes. The office was comprised of:

• Major Crimes Unit
• Sex Crimes Unit
• Juvenile/Missing Persons
• Domestic Violence Unit
• Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit
• Narcotics/Gambling Unit
• Fugitive Unit
• Professional Standards Unit
• Computer Crimes Unit
• Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit
• Intelligence Unit
• Homeland Security Division and Urban Area Security Initiative

Chief Devine holds two masters degrees, one in administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and the other in criminal justice from Jersey City State College. He will soon complete a doctorate of education program at Seton Hall University with a concentration in organizational leadership. Currently, Joseph Devine is an Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizational Leadership at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Faculty Profile: Dr. Joseph A. Devine