The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office celebrated Black History Month Monday at the County Administration Building in Morristown.  One of the event's honorees was Sgt. Allan Griffin of the Parsippany Police Department.

Griffin transferred to the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department from Rahway in 2003. While serving the township, he has excelled in the Patrol Division serving as field training officer for new hires, crime rrevention officer and noise enforcement officer.

 He is also a teacher: Griffin serves as departmental instructor for firearms, patrol rifle, defensive tactics, baton, pepper spray, handcuffing and dealing with an active shooter.  Since 2007, he has been on staff at John H. Stamler Police Academy as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor for police recruits as well as a lead instructor for many in-service training classes.

 A workshop for Safety Awareness and Defensive Counter Measures for Women was organized and conducted by Griffin and offered free of charge to female residents of Parsippany. The event was very well received.

Within the PPD, Griffin has received many awards and accolades including the Exceptional Duty Award, two life-saving awards, the Meritorious Service Award, unit and command citations. In 2007, he was selected as Officer of the Year by the Parsippany Rotary Club.

Griffin's achievements earned him a promotion: He stepped up to the rank of sergeant in September 2011, becoming the first African-American supervisor for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department.

- from the Office of the Mayor