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."