After 14 Years, Morris Township Police Secretary Retires

For more than two decades, Susan Ferrari spent her weekdays commuting an hour to Morris Township.

But after 14 years and assisting six different chiefs, Ferrari retired at the end of June as the secretary of the chief of police at the .

"Susan was kind of the rock in keeping everything going," Township Administrator and former police chief Timothy Quinn said. "She's an extremely lovely individual who only had nice things to say about people. She was just a delight and a pleasure to work with, and I just wish her all the best to her and her husband in her retirement."

Ferrari, of Sparta, has held two other positions in the department since 1993. Prior to becoming a secretary, she worked in the tax office at the municipal building and as a records clerk in the department.

Ferrari said she's going to miss the people she worked with and being in the township.

"Everyone is very supportive, and I love being in Morris Township, it's a beautiful town," she said. "It's a very interesting job, very varied, and the chiefs I've worked with were wonderful and very supportive."

Ferrari worked with six different chiefs throughout her time at the department; Elie Sims, Anthony Amelio, Michael Loughman, Quinn, Dennis Reillly and current Acting Chief John McGuinness.

Quinn said Ferrari's positive work attitude helped each chief easily transition to their position.

"As different tenures have taken place she's been the one there that's kind of guided everybody through the transition and assisted in improving and helping with their role as the chief of police," Quinn said.

Quinn said some of Ferrari's responsibilities had been ensuring the office of the chief is organized and well-run, maintaining all records, tracking purchase and expenditures and handling confidential correspondents with the chief's office.

Ferrari said in her years at the department, the most fulfilling things have been "being part of the action and being part of the township and what it stands for."

Over the years, Ferrari has seen a lot of action in the township, but the that happened on Interstate 287 last December is one that she will never forget.

"The call came in and this place was emptied out in seconds," she said. "Everybody just took off and went out there to do whatever they could do to help."

Ferrari will now use her time to go back to doing things she wished she had time for in the past, such as volunteering for her church. She said she also might look for a local part-time job.

Ferrari left the same year as former police chief Dennis Reilly.and is now the chief of police in Grinnell, Iowa.

John DeZao, who is currently serving as a senior clerk in the police records bureau, has replaced Ferrari as police chief secretary. He has previously worked as the communications officer.

Ferrari said she will remain connected with the township and those she has worked closely with.

"I'd just like to thank all the people that I've had association with all this time," she said, "and thank them for all their help and support and appreciation for my position."