About Us: Undersheriffs/Chiefs

Bureau of Law Enforcement

Undersheriff John F. Dempsey

After graduating from Madison High School, Undersheriff Dempsey enlisted in the United States Air Force. Upon discharge, he joined the Madison Police Department. Two years into his stint as a patrolman, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office sought Dempsey out and offered him the opportunity to join its ranks as an undercover narcotics detective. During his 23-year career with the Prosecutor’s Office, Dempsey served in many different capacities, ultimately rising to the rank of deputy chief before departing for the Sheriff’s Office. Now in his 20th year as undersheriff in charge of the Bureau of Law Enforcement, Dempsey has proven himself as a strong manager and leader.

Undersheriff Dempsey has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in business. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is certified as a New Jersey Public Manager. He resides in Morris Township with his wife Denise.

Chief Carol A. Ackerman

Chief Carol A. Ackerman began her career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in 1988. On December 30, 2008, she was sworn in as chief sheriff’s officer, becoming only the third officer to hold this rank since the inception of the Sheriff’s Office in 1739.

Chief Ackerman’s professional career included assignments in the Criminal Investigations section where she received court certification as an expert in handwriting analysis and fingerprint comparison. As the Sheriff’s Office accreditation manager, she led the agency to become the first sheriff’s office in New Jersey to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

In 2003, Carol was promoted to lieutenant and served as division commander for Protective Services. In 2007, she was promoted to captain where she supervised Protective Services and the Administration divisions.

A graduate of the County College of Morris, the FBI National Academy and certified as a New Jersey Public Manager, Chief Ackerman resides in Roxbury with her husband Steve and two daughters, Alexis and Andie.

Bureau of Corrections

Undersheriff Frank Corrente

Undersheriff Corrente is proof that diligence and hard work pay off. He joined the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in 1984 and worked his way up the ranks to become sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy warden, warden and then was appointed undersheriff for the Bureau of Corrections in the spring of 2009.

As undersheriff, Frank’s duties and responsibilities include the operational control of male and female detainees and sentenced inmates which includes the custody, discipline and welfare of offenders within the facility; overall management, administration and supervision of a mixed gender work force; and administrative responsibility for the maintenance of the full service physical plant operations including security, environmental health management, food service, fire safety and inmate transportation.

Frank is a graduate of Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and received certification as a New Jersey Public Manager in April of 2002. Frank resides in Succasunna with his wife Joann and three children.

Warden Neil Collins

Warden Collins started with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer in September 1987 and went on to attend the Morris County Firefighters and Police Training Academy (now the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy) the following year. In 1990, he was assigned to the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program. From 1992 to 1995, Neil conducted background investigations for new employees and was assigned to the Jail Classification Unit.

In 1995, Neil was promoted to sergeant followed by a promotion in 1999 to lieutenant. During his tenure as lieutenant, he served on the jail transition team which was established to ensure a smooth transition from the old jail to the new one, which opened in May of 2000. In June of 2001, Neil was promoted to captain, where he supervised the Security Division within the Bureau of Corrections. In September of 2009, he became warden for the Morris County Correctional Facility.