Call for a Free Consultation

About Our Company

Exemplary Leadership

Rooted in Law
Enforcement Excellence

James South and Jeffrey Gale are the founders of South and Associates. Lifelong friends, each dedicated over 25 years to the State Police, honing their expertise in various skill sets. Their paths, distinguished by their unwavering commitment to integrity and service, underscore a history of exceptional dedication to public safety and justice.

Following their retirement, the duo channeled their extensive experience into creating South and Associates and Garrison Security Group in 2011. These ventures reflect their lifelong commitment to safeguarding communities, now extended through private investigative and security service.

A Pledge to Excellence
and Continuous Improvement

James and Jeffrey’s pursuit of knowledge and skills didn’t end with their transition from public service. Both founders actively seek out advanced training and certifications, ensuring our team offers cutting-edge solutions to our clients. This commitment to growth has seen South and Associates and Garrison Security Group flourish, attracting professionals who share our core values of integrity, diligence, and excellence.

In 2019, Joseph Herrity joined our ranks, bringing an unparalleled depth of military, law enforcement, and investigative experience spanning over 35 years. His global expertise and proven leadership in high-risk environments have been instrumental in furthering our operational capabilities and safety protocols. Joe’s leadership in international security operations, particularly in conflict zones, has contributed significantly to our strategic and tactical proficiency.

Andrea Craparotta joined our team and exemplifies our relentless pursuit of excellence. Her career is marked by significant assignments in narcotics, homicide, and as a Task Force Officer with the DEA’s Newark Field Division. Andrea’s expertise extends across a broad spectrum of investigation, including high-stakes undercover operations that have led to appearances on national television and speaking engagements before the United States Congress. 

In choosing to work with South and Associates, and Garrison Security Group, you are choosing to work with a family of like-minded people with strong values and a commitment to providing the highest quality of service. 

Our Commitment To You

At South and Associates, our mission extends beyond investigative services. We are dedicated to building a safer future through investigation, security planning, and an unwavering commitment to our clients' safety and confidentiality. Our team's collective experience in law enforcement, military operations, and administrative excellence sets us apart, enabling us to meet the complex needs of our clients with precision and reliability.

The South and Associates Team

JAMES SOUTH, C.H.P.P.

President and Founder

JEFFREY G. GALE, C.H.P.P.

Vice President

Joseph Herrity

Security Consultant

ANDREA CRAPAROTTA

Training Consultant

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

We work as a united team, utilizing all available Assets, in order to give our clients the highest quality service possible.

JAMES SOUTH

President and Founder

During his decorated 25 year career as a New Jersey State Trooper, James D. South held assignments at state police road stations including the New Jersey Turnpike, as a supervisor of detectives in the Criminal Investigations Unit and Internal Affairs Unit. Mr. South also supervised the Shooting Response Team stationed in Camden, NJ. Mr. South has acted in a supervisory or investigative capacity for every manner of crime, including financial crimes, burglaries, sex crimes, armed robberies, and homicides. Mr. South also supervised Homeland security details at designated critical infrastructure sites including the Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant, Metlife Stadium, the Meadowlands Arena as well as Newark Penn Station.

Mr. South has an extensive educational background that includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickenson University and numerous certifications relating to both security and investigative fields.

While a member of the New Jersey State Police, Mr. South lectured on a local, state and national level. Mr. South continues to provide training to corporations, government agencies, universities, houses of worship, as well as the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Jeffrey G. Gale

VICE PRESIDENT

Jeffrey Gale retired from the New Jersey State Police as Bureau Chief assigned to the Office of Professional Standards in 2011. He held the rank of Captain, and worked closely with the Office of the Attorney General. As Bureau Chief, he supervised five units responsible for receiving and classifying complaints, making disciplinary recommendations, and conducting inspections and audits to ensure members acted in compliance with all Division policies and regulations.

Earlier in his tenure with the State Police, he served as Assistant Bureau Chief of the Internal Affairs Investigation Bureau, directing the efforts of all investigators assigned throughout the state. He spent 18 years in a variety of uniformed assignments, including as Squad Supervisor managing Troopers assigned to patrol-related activities and as Unit Head of the Construction/Incident Management Unit for the NJ Turnpike. He received numerous letters of commendation from the Office of the Attorney General.

He has provided security for governmental officials (up to and including presidential details), provided and supervised Office of Homeland Security details at Newark International Airport, Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant, and other sites designated as critical infrastructure, and provided and supervised physical security for sporting events and concerts at large venues, including Metlife Stadium, the Meadowlands Arena, and Rutgers Stadium.

Joseph Herrity

Security Consultant

Joseph Herrity brings over 35 years of combined military, law enforcement and investigative experience and most recently served as the AECOM Corporate Vice President for Security and Resilience Processes. His expertise includes developing and managing diversified corporate security and safety plans ranging from personnel and computer integrity to hard asset protective services. In addition, Mr. Herrity has authored emergency preparedness plans, International emergency evacuation plans, expatriate travel guides and country briefs. He has developed physical security, access control, computer security and loss prevention plans, conducted employee and management training for implementation of all plans, and participated in the evacuation of employees from hostile locations and countries.

Mr. Herrity established and supervised protective service details (PSD) and base security operations in hostile locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, conducting approximately 10,000 PSD sorties for individual trips/flights/missions totaling almost 2 million road miles, moving 19,800 employees and clients. All of these movements and base security operations were self-protected, without coalition forces for escort or protection. He also established an air bridge (rotary and fixed wing aircraft) that conducted hundreds of sorties between sites in northern, central and southern Iraq without sustaining a single casualty. Mr. Herrity is a U.S. Navy and Army veteran and has previously held clearances with the DOD T/S and other Agency T/S SCM with polygraph.

Andrea Craparotta

Training Consultant

Andrea Craparotta, a retired Captain, commenced her career in 1988 with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office after graduating from the Division of Criminal Justice Basic Investigator’s Academy where she received the award for highest academic average. In 1990, she joined the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office with assignment to the Narcotics Task Force. In 1998, Ms. Craparotta was assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Newark Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) where she received the Administrator’s Award for outstanding contributions to drug enforcement. In addition, Ms. Craparotta had assignment to Homicide, Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, Bias Crimes, Juvenile, Vertical Prosecution and Training Units. She also served as the Interim Director of Police at Middlesex County College.

Ms. Craparotta has a robust educational background. She has a Masters Degree in Education from Seton Hall University, a Certificate in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership from Rutgers University and a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia. In 2011, Ms. Craparotta graduated from FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and has two published statements that are contained within the FBI Academy Library. In addition, Ms. Craparotta has served as an adjunct faculty member for Rutgers University and Brookdale Community College, was a certified instructor with the Police Training Commission and a certified firearms instructor.

In 2000 and 2002, Ms. Craparotta testified before the United States Congress Subcommittee on Crime regarding her experiences as an undercover officer and the epidemic involving “Club Drugs”. In 2006 Ms. Craparotta was an invited participant at the Oxford Round Table on Criminal Law, at Oxford University, England.

With over twenty six years in the field of law enforcement, Ms. Craparotta has extensive experience in all aspects of criminal investigation including forensic interviewing and interrogation, surveillance, arrest, search and seizure, undercover operations and use of informants. Having performed as an undercover operative on hundreds of occasions for municipal, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies, she has been involved in all investigative levels of narcotic trafficking.

As a result of her undercover work, Ms. Craparotta has had appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC Investigates, Inside Edition and more. She has also instructed narcotics officers working in high intensity drug trafficking areas on undercover operations and taught police recruits at the Division of Criminal Justice Basic Investigator’s Academy in Sea Girt, NJ. In addition, she has instructed classes on various aspects of law enforcement and crime prevention to sworn police officers, attorneys, educators and students throughout the tri-state area.

During her time spent at the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and at Middlesex County College Police Department, Ms. Craparotta handled all operational and administrative duties associated with the assignments including staffing, supervision of daily investigative activities, operational plan review, personnel issues, training oversight and budgeting.

Ms. Craparotta served as the Training Coordinator for the Middlesex County Police Training Center, which provides in-service training to the 1800 sworn police officers of Middlesex County. In addition, she supervised the Bias Crimes Unit and the Outreach and Education Unit, which services the 800,000 citizens of Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Ms. Craparotta developed and presented “Active Shooter Preparedness” training to the faculty and staff at Middlesex County College, the United States District Courts of New Jersey and the United States Attorneys Offices in Newark, Trenton and Camden, New Jersey.

Ms. Craparotta is a Past President of the New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association and is on the Executive Board of Directors for New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement.

Call Now Button