On April 26, 2017, Patrol Officer Joseph Chmura retired from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department after 27 years of service to the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
He was hired on February 2nd, 1990 and held multiple positions within the Police Department. Some of his positions included being a DARE Officer, a Field Training Officer, a member of the Honor Guard, Bicycle Patrol, and Rifle Squad. He was also a long time member of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire Department.
In 2001, he was one of many Parsippany Police Officers who travelled to Ground Zero and assisted in the recovery efforts. He, along with other officers, received the 2005 Parsippany Rotary Club Award for Law Enforcement Officers of the Year for traveling to New Orleans to assist in the relief efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He was also the recipient of 3 Life Saving Awards, 6 Command Citations (which includes one for assisting in delivering a baby), 4 Unit Commendations, and 1 Chief of Police Award. One of the three Life Saving Awards was earned on June 10, 2001, when he and another officer responded to a call for an unresponsive 3 year old that was pulled out of a pool. After multiple cycles of CPR the child was revived and made a full recovery after being transported to the hospital by ambulance.
In a statement from Mayor Barberio, “Myself and my wife’s family can never thank Patrolman Joe Chmura enough. The 3 year old that was pulled out of the pool and saved by Patrolman Chmura was my nephew. Joe, thank you so much! We wish you the very best in your retirement.”
