Nearly 20 speakers at the dinner, which included a bevy of politicians, judges, lawyers, and police, applauded Carroll's quiet commitment to accomplishing that goal.
Chester County Court Judge Anthony A. Sarcione, Carroll's predecessor and a 30-year associate, said Carroll's influence in the District Attorney's Office started long before he assumed the top post 10 years ago. Calling Carroll the "go-to guy" on state statutes, Sarcione said, "He knew it all better than anyone else."
First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Carmody described a "bizarre combination" of humility and ambition. On the one hand, "Joe wanted to save the world." On the other, if Carroll forgot his county ID card, he would stand in line at the justice center's X-ray machine rather than pull rank to bypass the screening, Carmody said.
"He was a workhorse, not a show horse," Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said.
Carroll, a West Chester native, said he was honored by the accolades. During a subsequent interview, he reflected on his career, which began in 1975 when he was hired by the District Attorney's Office as an intern while attending law school at Villanova.
He flirted briefly with becoming a police officer, but decided he lacked the fortitude. He also ran several successful businesses, including a Coatesville pizza shop. That stint enabled him to deliver pizzas and an argument to the state Supreme Court on the same day when he was an assistant district attorney.
"It didn't seem odd at the time," Carroll said. "That was my life back then."
Ultimately, work as a prosecutor prevailed, even though being a pizza purveyor proved more profitable. He credited his wife, Barbara, and their two children, Joseph and Jennifer, with allowing him to pursue his dream.
