By: Najla Alexander
Morris County officials announced that Morris County Warden Christopher E. Klein’s retirement was described as an “end of an era” by Sheriff James M. Gannon, as officers at the Morris County Correctional Facility, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the county administration presented Klein with honors on his last day at the facility.
“It’s been a great career. I’m a little bit torn about leaving, but I think it’s the right time for me to go. I want to thank the county administrator’s office, the sheriff, the undersheriffs, and the chiefs for the support they’ve given me over the years. I couldn’t have done it without them … And I want to thank the staff. Without the staff here, my job couldn’t get done,” said Klein.
Offering his farewell, Klein stood in the correctional facility in front of the main conference room, where the sheriff’s office affixed a new plaque, dedicating the room, effective Dec. 31, as the Warden Christopher E. Klein Conference Room, Morris County officials stated.
The bronze plaque reads, in part: “In honor and recognition of your outstanding commitment and distinguished service to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Citizens of Morris County.”
According to MCPO officials, Morris County Administrator Deena Leary presented Klein with a Resolution of Honor from the Board of County Commissioners for his more than 25 years of service to the county and its citizens. She noted his dedication to duty, hands-on leadership style, and his deep institutional knowledge of every operation and aspect of running the correctional facility, from the details of each standard of practice to whether particular parts of the air conditioning units needed repair.
“Christopher Klein, who dedicated more than 25 years to our Bureau of Corrections, coming up from the ranks, is the last officer who had worked in our old jail on Court Street, in Morristown. His leaving marks the end of an era,” said Sheriff Gannon.
“He demonstrated exceptional leadership during his 12 years here as warden. He knows the administrative side, he brings the experience of being an officer in the facility, and he has special business acumen. I just cannot say enough about him,” the sheriff added.
Klein, who was presented with additional honors and plaques from staff, officers, and other members of leadership within the sheriff’s office, officially retires at the end of today, MCPO officials said.
Assuming the role of warden as of Jan. 1, 2026, is Anthony P. Lotz, an officer with more than 23 years of experience in the correctional facility, Morris County officials said. Sheriff Gannon said that while he laments Warden Klein’s departure from office, the correction is being left in very capable hands with Lotz assuming the leadership role as warden.
Morris County officials say that Klein joined the Morris County Correctional Police on Sept. 13, 1999, as a county correctional police officer assigned to multiple operational areas of the facility, advancing to correctional police sergeant in 2007 and to county correctional police lieutenant in 2012.
During his tenure as an officer, he oversaw the training unit, fire safety unit, medical unit, policy and procedures unit, and quartermaster unit, while also supervising state inspections and accreditation efforts that resulted in the facility receiving its fourth accreditation from the American Correctional Association, according to Morris County officials.
Klein was promoted to warden of the Morris County Correctional Facility on Sept. 8, 2013, and had been responsible for the daily oversight of more than 180 sworn and non-sworn employees across the administrative support services and security divisions, MCPO officials stated.
Under his leadership, Morris County officials said, the Morris County Correctional Facility consistently achieved a 100 percent rating from the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the American Correctional Association.