Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 Source: The Express-Times (PA) Website: http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/today/ Address: P.O. Box 391, Easton, PA 18044-0391 Feedback: http://penn.nj.com/expresstimes/submit.html Contact: http://www.pennlive.com/forums/ Copyright: 2001 The Express-Times Author: Terrence Dopp ACTION URGED TO STOP DRUGS Freeholders Want Hunterdon County To Be Free Of Heroin RARITAN TWP. - Hunterdon County freeholders said it clearly: drugs are hitting the rural county hard. In the wake of seven drug-related deaths this year, county freeholders on Tuesday called on the prosecutor's office to concentrate on curbing a surge in heroin use among teen-agers. Freeholders George Melick and Marcia Karrow raised the issue as freeholders approved adding a new anti-insurance fraud wing for the agency and a planned trip to an Atlantic City conference this fall for seven members of the prosecutor's office. The trip and program passed 3-2, with Karrow and Melick dissenting. The two said Prosecutor Stephen Rubin has enough legal work already without taking on more. "The (county's) chief law enforcement officer can't fight a drug war if he's at some social gathering," Melick said. "The point I want to make is that it's about leadership. It's fine to get all the (state) money, but drugs should be our main focus." Although seemingly bucolic, Hunterdon county has recently been plagued by fatal overdoses, starting with the heroin overdose of 17-year-old Gregory Baltz in January, and continuing through the recent death of a Flemington woman in what authorities believe is an overdose. This past weekend, 18-year-old Leonardo DiPasquale of Califon - who was facing charges in Baltz's death - also died from taking the drug. Reached by phone Tuesday, Rubin said heroin has become a huge problem. But Rubin, who was not at the freeholder meeting, said he could not respond to comments until talking to freeholders. "My obligation is to deal with all kinds of criminal activity and I can't do one to the exception of everything else," said Rubin. "When they contact me I'll be happy to meet with them and have a dialogue." Melick and Karrow said Rubin's office does a good job prosecuting people involved in drug cases, but needs to look into keeping drugs out of the county before bolstering other areas. "Everybody who wears a gun and a badge looks to the prosecutor for direction," Melick said, questioning the high bill Hunterdon taxpayers pay to wage anti-drug crusades. "Three-point-five million dollars and we get seven fatalities. I think there are some questions that need to be answered." But there is no quick fix for Hunterdon County's drug problems, the prosecutor said. Drugs "are a monumental problem. It's not just a local problem, it's an international problem," Rubin said. "And a complex problem means there are no easy answers or quick fixes here." Rubin said he would consider any programs or initiatives freeholders pitch. According to Karrow, bolstering anti-drug efforts requires the prosecutor to lobby hard in Trenton, particularly for stepped-up New Jersey State Police interdiction on Interstate 78. She said that during a recent grand jury stint "four out of five" cases involved cars with drugs along Interstate 78 in Union Township. The busy highway serves as the main conduit for traffic - both benign and illicit - between New York and Allentown. Many law enforcement heads have said the road has the danger of bringing drugs and crime into the county. "I think the state police that are patrolling (I-78) are not getting support," said Karrow. "Ever since all the racial profiling stuff, they've been wary." Other freeholders were less critical of Rubin's drug policy. Freeholder Paul Sauerland, the board's liaison to the prosecutor's office, said social service agencies and parents have an equally important role in curbing drug use. "I think the prosecutor's main job is to enforce the law," Sauerland said. "And I think he's doing a good job." Sauerland and Freeholder Director George Muller called for a "heroin summit" involving law enforcement, social service groups and the public. No date has been set for the program. County Human Services Director Angelo DiOrio said his wing of county government is set to meet today with local school administrators and he echoed cries for the meeting. County parks Director John Trontis also said the parks department is reaching out to teens with a number of new programs they hope will stem drug use. "Obviously, because we have these deaths, this is a very tragic situation," DiOrio said. "I can tell you right now we're going to come on very strong and very aggressive." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth