New Crime Scene Unit Unveiled

By: Nicole Graves-Watson, Community Justice Coordinator

Last fall, the Essex County Prosecutor’s allows detectives to visually reconstruct Office unveiled a 15,000 square foot crime scenes. The facility is also home to crime scene investigation facility. The the vehicular homicide unit, a team that $2.5 million unit, funded by forfeiture investigates fatal collisions, serious money seized from criminals, was bodily injuries and fatalities involving designed to improve the collection, motor vehicles. There is a processing processing and packaging of forensic room equipped with a hydraulic lift and evidence in Essex County. “Essex County is now at the forefront of fusing science and technology with fighting crime. This building is the optimum showcase of future crime scene investigations,” said Paula Dow, Essex County Prosecutor.

The facility features a forensic processing room, digital photo processing room, and a drying chamber designed to process and package blood soaked evidence. Its high-tech computer system

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air tools, which allows investigators to The facility has space to accommodate examine motor vehicles from all angles. additional employees and store large “It’s an improvement in surroundings amounts of files. and the equipment puts us on par and well above other police agencies across In addition to investigating homicides, the state and shootings and sex crimes, the crime scene country,” stated unit is able to Howard Johnson, assist county Essex County police detective of 13 departments in years. burglaries and other routine Six crime scene matters. vehicles, each Recently it equipped with assisted the digital cameras, West Caldwell portable lighting Police Depart- systems, scene ment in solving guard kits and a case involving measuring a string of devices, fill the burglaries. The parking lot unit collected outside of the Crime Scene Unit. forensic evidence at the crime scene, Employees at the Crime Scene Unit have which was later used to find the doubled to twenty. Staff members perpetrator. include assistant prosecutors, supervisors, detectives, and clerical staff. “It’s a pleasure to work in a unit like this. We have every tool that we need to get the job done,” said Captain Robert Carella. Captain Carella oversaw the production of the crime scene facility which began as an abandoned-looking warehouse. Arrangements were made for Essex County prisoners to gut out and clean the building. Contractors were later hired to design the state of the arts facility.

“No other prosecutor has placed this much effort in the crime scene unit. We are greatly appreciative of Prosecutor Dow’s efforts. Given our new equipment, we can obtain the forensic evidence to help better prosecute our cases,” said Captain Carella.

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The Vertical Court System

By: Paul Loriquet, Press Agent When Paula Dow began her journey as victims, witnesses and police officers Acting-Prosecutor of Essex County in much earlier – when the crime is fresh in 2003, her office had recently initiated a their minds and the investigation can still Vertical Court pilot program designed to be shaped.” improve the criminal court system. Serving as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Assistant Prosecutor Howard Zuckerman, Attorney’s Office for eight years, Dow a supervising attorney in the Trial Section knew first-hand about the benefits of a of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Vertical Court system. “The Vertical recently prosecuted a case which helps Court system streamlines prosecutions, illustrate the many advantages of the new system. On February 12, 2006, a brutal attack occurred at the apartment home of a 53 year-old victim on North Walnut Street in East Orange. During the evening hours, while she lay asleep, her attacker, Sylvan Blackmon, 63, also of East Orange, poured boiling water containing reduces time from arrest to disposition, butter on the victim’s body. The victim fosters greater accountability and sustained 3rd degree burns on her neck provides better utilization of limited and chest area. She was treated and resources,” said Prosecutor Dow. released after spending a lengthy stay in the Burn Center of St. Barnabas Medical Dow helped influence her office to Center in Livingston. transform all fifteen (15) Criminal Courts from a standard flow to a vertical flow in The investigation determined that the managing criminal cases. “There are victim and the defendant had an ongoing numerous benefits to the Vertical Court relationship which apparently concluded system. First, the cases are reviewed by during a dispute. A witness, the one Assistant Prosecutor (AP) versus superintendent of the apartment, who multiple Assistants. Generally, all of the later testified at trial, said that after defendants’ cases are handled in one hearing screams he responded to the court. Lastly, the AP’s are in contact with victim’s apartment. Upon entering the

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apartment, he noticed the defendant in Besides producing a favorable outcome the room. Blackmon admitted that he had of his case, Zuckerman was impressed committed the attack and alleged it was with the vertical flow method. “Within in retaliation for the victim stealing his one month from the time of Blackmon’s money. Blackmon was charged with 2nd arrest, the case was on my desk. Under degree aggravated assault, 4th degree the old system, the case would take unlawful possession of a weapon between four to six months before (boiling water) and 3rd degree possession reaching a trial attorney,” said of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He Zuckerman. was convicted on all counts by a jury and was sentenced to six years in State Prison. When Zuckerman received the file in this case, he noticed it was incomplete, so Standard v. BEFORE Vertical Prosecution

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within days, he along with Detective assigned to the case, I was able to Toni Ann Mattia of the Essex County establish a rapport with the victim and Prosecutor’s Office, interviewed the witness and maintained that rapport victim and witness. In addition, throughout the proceedings.” photographs were taken of the victim while her injuries were still acute and The case was presented to a grand jury on medical records were obtained. “We were April 25, only one month after the able to get statements from the victim defendant’s arrest and ready for trial in and witness while the case was still fresh August. In comparison, under the in their minds. Being the sole attorney non-vertical system, most cases took

Streamlined AFTER Prosecution

Vertical Prosecution

substantially more time before going to trial.

Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carolyn Wright, who heads the Trial Section, claims an added benefit of the Vertical Court system is that it allows for meaningful Pre-Trial Disposition con- ferences to take place prior to an indictment. During this conference,

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prosecutors meet with defense attorneys evidence to obtain an arrest warrant, in an attempt to resolve the cases through based on probable cause, and are not plea agreements. Under the old system, always tailored to the ultimate goal of very few Pre-Disposition conferences, not conviction. “The Vertical Court system involving narcotics cases, took place prior provides the State an opportunity to to indictment. oversee an investigation not only to meet the burden of probable cause but also to Lastly, Wright says police investigations meet the burden of proof beyond a are often closed after obtaining sufficient reasonable doubt.”

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Combating Gangs in Essex County

By: Thomas Fennelly, Assistant Prosecutor/Director There is a substantial as well as armed street gang problem robberies and within the County of facilitating narcotics Essex. The Essex trafficking. County Prosecutor’s Office maintains a The murder rate database with over within the core urban three thousand iden- communities in Essex tified gang members. County has been Gang membership particularly troubling and criminal activity because it is committed by criminal primarily fueled by street gang members an increase in gang has increased over the activity. Approxi- past decade. mately 105 homicides occurred in Newark The core city in Essex during 2006. Al- County, Newark, is though the total for the largest city in the 2007 is expected to State and the most diminish, it still densely populated in Actual Gang Member delineates a disturb- the country. Only ten from ingly high number. miles west of New Street Gang Awareness Seminar According to the 2006 York City, it New Jersey Institute of Technology FBI Uniform Crime experiences signifi- November 16, 2007 Reports, Newark’s cant and pervasive per capita murder gang related violence. rate is one of the While Newark and the surrounding communities in Essex County have had a long-standing gang problem, it has been exacerbated by the recent infiltration and recruitment by larger national gangs, including the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, and the Netas. In June 2005, the New Jersey State Police estimated that the number of gang members in New Jersey had increased from 7,500 to 17,000 in just four years. Violence by these gangs has been facilitated by an influx of handguns, mainly from out of state, which have been highest in the nation for major U.S. cities. used by gang members to commit an The vast majority of these homicides are increasing number of murders, shootings, committed with a handgun. In addition to

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the core city of Newark, neighboring Squad and municipal detectives. When municipalities such as East Orange, an arrest is made, the matter is Orange and the Township of Irvington are aggressively prosecuted; however, this Office is hindered by an ever increasing problem of witness intimidation.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Gang Unit was formed in 2001 and has conducted a number of major investigations. The investigative staff of the Gang Unit has also developed a gang intelligence database that contains statistical information on identified gang sets, gang members and associates operating in Essex County. In spite of the comprehensive efforts of the Gang Unit and several municipal police agencies, the gang problem in Essex County continues to propagate. Even with the work of the Gang Unit and several municipal police agencies, the gang problem in Essex County continues to grow.

In response to the significant and pervasive gang problem, the U.S. Attorney, Christopher J. Christie, and Essex County Prosecutor, Paula T. Dow, have formed the Essex Federal Gang Suppression Partnership (“Gang Suppression Partnership”) comprised of personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE, U.S. Marshal’s Office, NJ State Police, and Newark Police Department. This task force, which is co-located at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Gang also plagued by violent crime. Homicides Unit, currently consists of in Essex County are diligently approximately 15 local and Federal investigated by the Prosecutor’s Homicide investigators, simultaneously with

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assistant county prosecutors and assistant not dealing traditional street drugs such as United States attorneys. The task force is heroin and cocaine. By utilizing targeting individual gang sets in an effort confidential informants and undercover to reclaim neighborhoods from their violent drug-trafficking grip. The target area is Newark and other surrounding municipalities within Essex County.

Since its inception, the Gang Suppression Partnership has conducted a number of investigations including the following two major cases:

Operation Medicine Boyz

A detective from the Prosecutor’s Gang Unit compiled information about members of Blood sets pertaining to police officers, Gang Unit detectives made involvement in a scheme to unlawfully several controlled purchases of obtain and redistribute prescription prescription pain medication such as oxy- painkillers. As the investigation was condone and percocet.

This criminal enterprise, which was centered in downtown Newark near Branford Place and Broad Street, involved "runners" bribing medi- caid patients for their painkiller prescriptions such as OxyContin, Xanax, Percoset and Tussionex. In return, the patients were given cash or heroin. The "runners" then sold the drugs to "buyers" for cash, who in turn sold the drugs to street drug buyers for a profit. For instance, Lt. Earl Graves proceeding, Gang Unit detectives and Detective Dante Pasquale of the Essex identified several known members of the County Prosecutor's Office said one of the Bloods believed to be involved in the pills cost about $18 to $22 at the pharmacy. distributions. Intelligence obtained from The drug ring was selling them for $45 a confidential sources indicated that these pill on the street to people wanting to get Gang members thought they were high. According to Detective Pasquale, the insulated from arrest because they were

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scheme was alleged to have garnered approximately $250,000 during 2006. Suspects Arrested!! Prosecutor Paula T. Dow reported that with information provided by informants, Four suspects were taken into custody on members from the Federal Anti-Gang May 14, 2007. George Coleman, 38, of Partnership were able to utilize East Orange; Jason Evans, 32, of Newark; undercover detectives thereby infiltrating Barry Williams, 52, of Newark; and the group. Mahajir Salaam, 23, of Newark; were arrested on May 14, 2007. Maurice Gaskins, 26, of East Orange; Kassan Bellamy, 25, of East Orange; and Lonnie Miller, 38, of Newark, remain at large. Gaskins, the leader of the scheme, is accused of making two sales to undercover officers within 1,000 feet of a school. Bellamy is accused of selling 90 pills of Percocet during an undercover investigation and Miller is accused of distributing 39 tablets of Percocet in another sale, Pasquale said.

Coleman was arrested May 14th at his residence, where authorities confiscated a loaded 9 mm gun, $11,000.00 worth of Oxycodone and $5,100.00 in cash. He faces multiple charges for possession of narcotics, distribution and weapons- related offenses.

Williams was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) with intent to distribute. Evans was charged with possession of 60 Xanax pills and selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school. Mahajir was formerly in custody on unrelated drug charges, and was charged with selling 80 Xanax tablets to an undercover detective.

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conjunction with federal statutes, which allow their enhanced penalties. Operation First Blood Over the course of the investigation, at least 14 firearms, including handguns, This investigation began in the summer of assault rifles, a machine gun and one 2006 when investigators from the Gang Suppression Partnership developed information concerning a Blood set distributing crack cocaine, heroin and firearms throughout various Newark neighborhoods.

The investigation extended into the first half of 2007, during which time agents and investigators of the Gang Suppression Partnership con- ducted numerous controlled purchases acquiring high caliber firearms and controlled dangerous substances.

On June 14, 2007, U.S. Attorney, Christopher J. Christie, Essex County Prosecutor, Paula T. Dow, the heads of federal law enforcement agencies, the Newark Police and Sheriff’s Department announced fifteen members and associates of the Bloods street gang were charged federally for drug- trafficking and weapons possession charges. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting at least three others on state charges. Some of the defendants were trafficking in semi-automatic assault rifles, high- powered handguns and, in one case, a fully automatic machine gun. The investigation and arrests are due to the joint efforts of the Essex-Federal Gang Suppression Partnership, formed in early 2006 by Dow and Christie, to combine federal, state and local law enforcement resources in

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shotgun, were sold to the cooperating almost always denied bail and held witnesses, as well as approximately 560 pending disposition of their cases. The grams of crack cocaine and a lesser amount investigation centered primarily around of heroin. In one instance, defendant activity in and around two public housing Omar Curry, a high-ranking member or complexes in Newark, the Fairview Homes “5-star general” of the Nine Tre Bloods, and Steven Crane Village. Curry and arranged the sale of an SKS Chinese-made others charged today, including Hayes, semi-automatic assault rifle to a lived in those apartments. Meetings and cooperating witness for $1,200, according sales often took place in the suspects’ to one criminal Complaint. Curry also apartments or were directed from the sold several other firearms and directed apartments. numerous sales of crack and heroin. Because “We in law of the number of enforcement view weapons he sold, Curry these violent street is also charged with gangs as domestic trafficking in firearms. terrorists – domestic terrorists who wreak In another transaction, havoc in our on June 7, Eric Hayes neighborhoods by allegedly sold a fully instilling fear in automatic AK-47 assault rifle with an ordinary citizens,” said Dow. “Simply ammunition magazine containing 21 put, we ganged up on a gang. Our rounds, a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and message to gang members is this: We’re a semi-automatic assault rifle to another watching you intently, we’ll arrest you cooperating witness. Another defendant, unexpectedly, and most of all – we’ll Harry Quiah, allegedly sold three prosecute you extensively.” firearms, including a defaced .45 caliber handgun, a SKS assault rifle and a .40- In conclusion, the ECPO Gang Unit and caliber Glock handgun, along with 99 the Gang Suppression Partnership have grams of crack cocaine to cooperating enjoyed investigative and prosecutorial witnesses. successes. We recognize there is much more work to be done and there is no Many of the defendants, including Omar, indication that the gang problem in Essex Hayes and Quiah, have prior felony County is subsiding. As mentioned convictions in state or federal court and, as earlier, witness intimidation is a major such, are charged federally as felons in problem confronting law enforcement possession of firearms and other charges. today and there is a seemingly increasing Convictions under that particular statute availability of firearms. Members of the carry a maximum federal prison sentence Essex County Prosecutor’s Gang Unit and of 10 years. A felony with possession Gang Suppression Partnership will charges has an added benefit of a continue to develop gang-related dangerous defendant’s immediate removal intelligence, undertake investigations from the street. Prior convicted felons and prosecute gang-related activity. arrested for weapons possession are \\\\\\\\\\\

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The Special Victims Units

By: Robert Laurino, Chief Assistant Prosecutor

Over the past decade, the concept of the early 1970s. This squad is known “special victim crimes” has evolved and today as the Sexual Assault and Rape developed amidst our nation’s local police Analysis Unit (SARA). The Chief and prosecutorial offices. Special victim Assistant Prosecutor presides over the crimes are generally defined as those SARA Unit’s daily operation, its Assistant involving or attempting unwanted sexual Prosecutor/Director and two Assistant contact with individuals of all ages, along Prosecutors. The three sex crimes with all forms of heinous violence against Detectives assigned to the Unit are children. Many law enforcement agencies supervised by an Investigative Captain. have formed special victim units, The SARA Unit utilizes a “vertical” reflecting an increased sensitivity to the prosecutorial approach, handling all of its needs and the role of special victims own cases from inception through trial. within the criminal justice system. The By allowing a single prosecution team to idea was publicized in 1999 by the NBC work with the victim, this approach eliminates the need for repetitive investigative interviews and protects the victim from continually revisiting the abusive act.

The SARA Unit is involved in many cutting- edge legal issues, including the use of DNA evidence and Internet related crimes. With the establishment of a national DNA Data Bank by the FBI, Essex County was the first county television series Law & Order: Special prosecutor's office in the State of New Victims Unit. According to Essex County Jersey to obtain positive matches on a Prosecutor Paula T. Dow, “Sexual assault previously unidentified offender. is a particularly heinous crime, whose Additionally, it was the first prosecutor's victims require the best services that the office in the state to have a positive match law enforcement community of Essex on multiple cases committed by a serial County can offer.” sex offender.

Within the Essex County Prosecutor’s In 1983, a new squad was sub-divided Office, the first specialized squad focusing from the SARA Unit, to be known as the upon special victim crimes was formed in Child Abuse Unit. The ECPO Child

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Abuse Unit handles the highest volume of attention to victims in cooperation with a child abuse cases of any county in New local hospital. By co-locating social, Jersey. The natures of these cases include: medical and prosecutorial functions, the • sexual abuse; stress suffered by the child who is being • physical abuse; subjected to the workings of the criminal • child endangerment (abuse, neglect, justice system is reduced. This method cruelty and abandonment); often results in a more successful • child pornography; prosecution of the offender. • parental kidnapping; • interference with custody; In 2000, the Essex County Prosecutor’s • luring; and Office initiated its planning efforts for the • lewdness. initiation of a sexual assault forensic examination program, with the funding The sexual abuse cases initially involved and administrative support of the New children less than 13 years of age at the Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. In time of occurrence (although the incidents 2001, New Jersey Governor Christie may have been reported at a later date). Whitman signed into law a bill providing During 2003, the Unit began to handle the for the establishment of a statewide Sexual sexual abuse of all children under 18 years Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. of age. The Unit also handles physical New Jersey thus became one of the first abuse and neglect of all children under the states in the nation to develop a age of 18. The Unit’s legal staff consists of comprehensive statewide program to an Assistant Prosecutor/Director and four address the needs of sexual assault Assistant Prosecutors. The five child victims. The law requires each county abuse Detectives assigned to the Unit are prosecutor to appoint or designate a supervised by an Investigative Lieutenant. certified sexual assault nurse examiner to

serve as program coordinator for that In 2000, the ECPO Child Abuse Unit was county. The ECPO’s coordinator is a relocated to the Wynona P. Lipman Child registered nurse who has specialized Advocacy Center in Newark. The purpose training in conducting sexual assault of the Lipman Center is to formulate a medical forensic examinations. multi-disciplinary approach into the investigation of child abuse cases, and the overriding philosophy is that the "Child Comes First". This multi- disciplinary approach was developed in response to a concern about the adverse effects that multiple interviewing of children was causing. The Lipman Center houses therapists from the Regional Diagnostic Treatment Center, as well as an office of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. It also provides on-site medical

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The overall goals of the sexual assault Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston). forensic examination program include: Negotiations facilitating the expansion of timely and accurate collection of forensic this program with other area hospitals in evidence (thereby allowing for just Essex County are currently underway. determinations in sexual assault cases); enhanced assessment Within recent years, and documentation of ECPO has realized any medical trauma increased appreciation sustained by the sexual for the common assault victim; use of features and compassionate and opportunities for sensitive means to synergy amidst these address the physical, three specialized emotional and operations. As a result psychological needs of of a managerial sexual assault victims; reorganization made and coordination of by Essex County efforts between local Prosecutor Paula Dow police, hospitals, following her prosecutors, rape crisis appointment, the centers and service SARA Unit, Child providers so as to Abuse Unit and SANE improve the quality of program were all care and services offered grouped under the to sexual assault victims authority of Chief in Essex County. Assistant Prosecutor Robert Laurino, along The Essex County sexual with the ECPO Victim assault forensic Witness Advocacy examiner program Office. This has works in conjunction encouraged a greater with hospital affiliates. degree of information Trained forensic and expertise sharing examiners are available between these units, 24 hours a day, 7 days a along with more staff week to respond to the assignment flex- medical/forensic needs ibility. As such, the of sexual assault SANE examination survivors. The Essex function now works County hospitals that closely with detectives have agreed to and prosecutors in participate in the SART both the SARA and program are: Clara Child Abuse Units. Maass Medical Center Furthermore, the (Belleville), East Orange General Medical Victim Witness Advocacy Office supports Center (East Orange), Mountainside the needs of these victims by assisting in Hospital (Glen Ridge), Newark Beth Israel their psycho-emotional healing and Medical Center (Newark) and Saint

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preparing them for full participation in the degrading criminal acts. “We are proud to investigation and prosecutorial process. be able to join together with Wynona’s House and our other partners to provide The Wynona’s House not-for-profit this enhanced care to our citizens who organization, with the support of the New have been so terribly victimized,” says Jersey Division of Youth and Family Prosecutor Dow. Services, purchased and rehabilitated a former office building near downtown Newark to serve as the new Wynona Lipman Child Advocacy Center for Essex County. The newly upgraded facility provides 33,700 square feet of space, allowing for a more modern, spacious and child-friendly environment. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office co-located its special victims units within it. Beginning December 2007, the Child Abuse Unit, Sexual Assault and Rape Analysis Unit, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program share space within the new Child Advocacy Center. This allows various synergies to be realized, e.g. the extension of SANE evidence collection procedures to teen victims of sexual assault, the cross- training and flexible use of detectives and prosecutors between child and adult cases, etc.

At present, Essex County handles the largest number of sexual assault cases of any county in New Jersey. The SARA Unit launched over 200 case investigations in 2006, while the Child Abuse Unit convened 672 cases. Although the nurse examiner program is still converging, it is expected to serve over 200 sexual assault victims each year. With the recent managerial reorganization at ECPO and the co-location opportunity provided by the new Lipman Child Advocacy Center, the “special victims” concept can now be realized within the Essex County criminal justice system. Working in conjunction with the partnering agencies at the Wynona Lipman Center and local police, ECPO can provide surer justice against perpetrators and more humane treatment \\\\\\\\\\\ for the victims of the most personally

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On the Roadways – Safety & Law Enforcement Go Together

By: Detective Arnold Anderson

The Vehicular Homicide Unit of the Essex highway. Reckless drivers in turn County Prosecutor’s Office was heighten the risk of serious injury to their established in 2000 to concentrate on fellow passengers and motorists. criminal behavior behind the wheel. Everyday in America good drivers, Motor vehicle fatalities have no political obeying speed limits and the rules of the or economic boundaries. Indeed, more road, are injured or killed by careless, Americans were killed on our nation’s drunk, or reckless drivers. Therefore, highways than in every major war or criminal penalties are appropriate conflict our nation has fought. Alcohol sanctions against such behavior. related crashes among young people remains one of the greatest causes of The Unit was formed and designed to fatalities of our youths. Even good drivers ensure the close cooperation between the die. A simple error on a clear day by a local police departments, the New Jersey novice driver on a straight stretch of road State Police, and the Prosecutor’s Office could cost them their life or the lives of whenever a motor vehicle collision occurs their passengers or other drivers on the in the County resulting in a death or

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serious bodily injury. The nucleus of the fatalities annually making it one of the motor vehicle investigations carried out by highest in the State for motor vehicle the Vehicular Homicide Unit is to related deaths. Of these, approximately determine if the incident resulting in 70 per year meet the criteria for further death or serious bodily injury was due to detailed investigation. In addition to the criminal conduct. The Unit has received fatal collisions, the Vehicular Homicide Unit is called upon to assist municipalities in investigating collisions resulting from criminal activity such as DWI, driving a stolen vehicle, and eluding.

The sure application of criminal sanctions, assisted by state-of-the art investigative tools and highly trained detectives and prosecutors, helps to deter the worst forms of driving behavior on our crowded roads. However, the ECPO Vehicular Homicide Unit also hosts a number of proactive outreach programs meant to promote responsible driving behavior and awareness. These programs serve to reduce overall property loss and personal injury, given the many cases where driver carelessness does not rise to the level of criminality but can still cause much damage.

The following educational and enforcement initiatives have partial funding support from the New been initiated or carried out by the ECPO Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Vehicular Homicide Unit during 2006 since its inception. and 2007:

Essex County contains the highest population and traffic density in New The Smarter Drivers Jersey. There are 22 municipalities = spread over 127 square miles with 1,700 Safer Streets Program miles of roadway. Essex County has the greatest percentage of traffic crashes per mile of any county in New Jersey. Essex Detective Arnold Anderson of the County averages over 80 motor vehicle Vehicular Homicide Unit has created a

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unique and innovative drivers educational Editorial section called this program an program combining collision investigation auto version of Scared Straight and and avoidance with high school math and suggested that it be presented to high physics. Anderson, a member of the school students throughout the state. Vehicular Homicide Unit since August of 2000, is a former member of the Irvington To date, the Smarter Drivers = Safer Police Department where he led the Streets program has been presented to over 6,000 high school students across New Jersey. In 2005, the Smarter Drivers = Safer Streets program received the Governor’s Representative Award for Innovation in Traffic Safety Educa- tion. In addition to bringing his Smarter Drivers = Safer Streets to high school students throughout New Jersey, Traffic Safety Education Award Received from Rutgers Anderson was invited University during the New Jersey Safety Forum Held on 11/28/07 to speak at the 5th Annual Child Passen- department’s traffic bureau for 15 years. ger Safety Conference in Wildwood, NJ, Detective Anderson is also the current the Safe Passage On Our Roadways President of the Traffic Officers Symposium and the 2006 and 2007 Driver Association of Essex County, a not for Education Forums. In June of 2007, profit organization comprised of traffic Detective Anderson was chosen by safety advocates and municipal traffic Governor Jon Corzine to be a member of officers from Essex County, New Jersey the Teenage Driver Safety Study Transit and the New Jersey State Police. Commission. Detective Anderson’s Smarter Drivers = Safer Streets program capitalizes on the Comprehensive popularity of shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and provides a fresh Traffic Safety Program approach to driver’s education for young people. Since 2004, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has received a grant in the amount In 2003, Anderson received a grant from of $25,000 each year to promote and the New Jersey Division of Highway support traffic safety efforts. In 2007, the Traffic Safety to present his program to Essex County Prosecutor’s Office sent a high school students in Essex County. The message to aggressive drivers. In a press program drew much media attention and release, Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. as a result, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Dow said, “Our objective, through special Office receives requests for Detective targeted educational and enforcement Anderson to present this program all over efforts, is to reduce the number of the state. The Star Ledger Newspaper automobile crashes stemming from

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aggressive driving behavior.” As part of the educational efforts, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with Focus on Pedestrian Safety Titan Outdoor LLC, began deploying anti- aggressive driving messages on 100 NJ In 2006, The New Jersey Division of Transit and DeCamp buses throughout the Highway Traffic Safety, Essex County county. These public awareness ads Prosecutor’s Office and the Traffic reminded aggressive drivers to slow down Officers Association of Essex County and save a life. entered into a partnership with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of In addition to the public awareness ads, New Jersey (UMDNJ) led by the Director the Prosecutor’s Office purchased 5 copies of the Trauma Center, David Livingston, of Vista FX3 diagramming and reporting MD. Other organizations such as AAA, software from the Visual Statement New Community Corporation, NJTC, the Company. This collision reporting Greater Newark Conservancy and the software, already in use by the Vehicular Office of the Mayor of Newark, coalesced Homicide, Crime Scene and Arson Units with the Prosecutor’s Office to address pediatric pedestrian safety in Essex County. The newly formed Pedestrian Injury Prevention Partnership has be- gun to address issues around safety for young people as pedestrians.

By forming this partnership with other agencies concerned with pedestrian safety, there will be no duplication of efforts or the squandering of the Prosecutor’s Office, will be given to of time and energy. As their part of the 5 municipalities in Essex County in an effort to make Essex County more effort to standardize and improve the pedestrian friendly, the Essex County reporting and investigation of fatal traffic Prosecutor’s Office received a $40,000 collisions and other major crimes in Essex federal traffic safety grant that will be County. The built-in reporting software used for a new and innovative pedestrian will improve the way collision statistics safety and awareness project. The initial are gathered and recorded in Essex step will be to bring specialized training County. Future purchases of the software (created at Rutgers University) to police will be made in the coming years until all officers in Essex County on how to enforce of Essex County is similarly equipped and driver yielding behavior safely. the standard of reporting balanced.

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Keeping an Eye Out for

Aggressive Drivers The Results!!

Another new and innovative program In 2006, Police Agencies under the developed in 2006 centered on unsafe and leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office had, aggressive drivers. We all know that for the first time, 100% participation in the drivers are always on their best behavior various traffic safety campaigns sponsored when a marked patrol vehicle is present by the New Jersey Division of Highway and revert back to bad and unsafe Traffic Safety. Since 2005, the yearly behavior when they are not. MOP-UP or fatality rate has dropped from around 80 to Middle of the Pack – Undercover Patrols 60 automobile related deaths per year. The will roll out in the latter half of 2007 and 59 automobile fatalities in 2006 into 2008. A $25,000 federal grant from the represented the lowest number of motor New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic vehicle fatalities in Essex County during Safety will help the Essex County the previous 11 years. In addition, a Prosecutor’s Office equip ordinary, statewide seat belt usage survey conducted

unmarked vehicles with state of the art by the New Jersey Institute of Technology digital video cameras that will be (NJIT) indicated the statewide seatbelt deployed throughout the streets of Essex usage rate rose to 91.4%, up from 90%. County seizing aggressive drivers in the Essex County’s seatbelt usage rate rose act. 4.9% to 91.9%.

The goal of the project is to alter the \\\\\\\\\\\ public’s perception of cops on the roads. The public will no longer be able to say, when seeing a motorist driving aggressively on the road, “There’s never a cop around when you need one.” Instead, “You never know when a cop can be driving right next to you,” should be the guiding thought for drivers.

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Belleville Police Respond to School Violence

By: Nicole Graves-Watson, Community Justice Coordinator School shootings are no longer suit their needs. Lieutenant Victor Mesci constrained to a scenario in a fictionalized was instrumental in developing first Hollywood action film. Unfortunately, response training to respond to an active school shootings have become common in school shooting. today’s society. The Columbine High School massacre in 1999, where two Traditionally, first response police would students randomly shot and killed surround the outside of the school until students and faculty in Columbine, the SWAT team arrived. “After careful Colorado sparked a rash of school research, it became evident that the old shootings in this country. More recently, a way of responding to this type of crisis is mentally unstable student shot and killed not efficient,” said Lieutenant Mesci. The new training offers ways to enter a school and encounter the active gunman in a hallway, classroom and stairway. First responders are required to have breaching tools, which would be used to open locked doors. Ceramic plates would cover officers’ vests to protect them from injury. Ballistic shields and helmets are also needed for safety. Essex County Chiefs of Police are urging lawmakers to provide funding for the necessary equipment. “None of the police thirty-two (32) students and faculty at departments in Essex County have the Virginia Tech in Clarksburg, West necessary first response equipment. This Virginia. is a homeland security issue and hopefully we’ll see funding very soon,” continued The Belleville Police Department used Lieutenant Mesci. recent incidents of school violence as a warning to prepare themselves for a school Last February, the Belleville Police shooting. “We felt if it (school shootings) Department provided the first response could happen there, it could happen here,” training to its neighboring police said Chief of Police Joseph Rotonda. The departments. “We want all of the police department received tactical training from departments in Essex County to undergo the New York Police Department, studied the training,” said Lieutenant Mesci. information from the National Tactical Officers Association and modified it to \\\\\\\\\\\

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Prosecuting a Corrupt Cop by Following the Money: The Corruption Trial of Detective Norman Price

By: Lieutenant James B. Johnston East Orange police detective and his wife Introduction accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the City of East Orange. On that day, however, Detective Norman On May 12, 2006, an Essex County jury Price and his wife, Natasha McRae, failed reached a verdict in a case involving an to appear in court. Price, who was free on his own recognizance, checked into a Philadelphia hospital with chest pains.

At the time Paul Bradley, the Essex County Assistant Prosecutor who tried the case, grew suspicious of the move even though his office confirmed Price had checked into the hospital on May 11. Bradley’s instincts were right on target. Price checked out of the hospital a day later against a doctor’s advice. Price and McRae had fled the region and a nationwide manhunt by federal, state and county law enforcement agencies quickly ensued. Price was eventually captured in Arizona living under an assumed name and his wife surrendered to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office a few days later.

Summary

In February 2001, Detective Price was assigned the task

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of making recommendations for vendors the scheme were deposited into Price’s to supply the East Orange Police wife’s bank account. Although Price took Department with new telecommunications painstaking efforts to conceal his equipment. Over $2 million was budgeted involvement in the fraud, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office carefully followed the paper trail, which led directly to Officer Price and his wife.

At Officer Price’s trial, the prosecutors were concerned that the voluminous amount of financial evidence involved in the case might overwhelm and confuse the average Essex County juror. Unlike a murder trial involving guns and DNA evidence, this trial required the introduction of bank state- for this project. In 2003, Price drew ments, invoices, ATM withdrawals and suspicion from the head of the East cancelled checks. The most difficult Orange Police Department’s Internal challenge in prosecuting the case was Affairs (“IA”) Unit, when the phone simplifying the evidence and presenting it number of one of the department’s own IA to the lay juror. investigators appeared listed on a fraudulent invoice for supplies. The The trial team relied heavily on the use of matter was referred to the Professional visual aids, such as charts and Standards Bureau of the Essex County enlargements of Price’s financial records, Prosecutor’s Office for further showing the jury each step of the investigation. defendant’s intricate scheme. This The investigation revealed overwhelming evidence that Price, his wife, and two other East Orange Police Officers defrauded the city of more than $250 million. The evidence showed that Price and his wife established “shell” companies in the names of unwitting friends and relatives. The shell method companies were used to inflate the price of presenting the of goods, such as furniture, a global evidence proved to be an positioning system, and photographic effective way to communicate identification equipment that were sold to complicated financial records to the jury. the police department. Price and his At the conclusion of the trial, Price was cohorts submitted fraudulent invoices for convicted of 29 counts of official these goods to the city, using the shell misconduct, money laundering, corruption companies. Through a series of intricate and other charges. His wife was convicted financial transactions, the proceeds from of nineteen counts of misconduct.

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Conclusion

At his sentencing on November 17, 2006, The trial of Detective Norman Price will Price addressed the court and maintained serve as a model for future official his innocence. His wife pled with the court corruption trials, and his conviction will for leniency. However, Superior Court deter police officers and other public Judge Thomas Vena was unmoved, and officials from violating the public trust. stated, “It is people like you, Mr. Price, This case demonstrates the Essex County who cause the community to feel that they Prosecutor’s Office’s policy of vigorously are not properly served.” Price was prosecuting corrupt police officers, who sentenced to twenty years in prison, and tarnish the reputation of the majority of his wife received a fourteen year term. The officers who have scruples. judge explained that the long sentences were due to the fact that the defendants \\\\\\\\\\\ violated the public trust.

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Ethics 101 with Prosecutor Dow

By: Nicole Graves-Watson, Community Justice Coordinator

“To care for anyone else enough to make their problems one’s own, is ever the beginning of one’s real ethical development.” Felix Adler, scholar and founder of the Society of Ethical Culture

After twenty weeks of training at the Essex can lead to corruption if they’re not County Police Academy, police recruits careful,” stated Prosecutor Dow. have their final lesson before graduation: Ethics and Law Enforcement with As the chief law enforcement officer in Prosecutor Paula T. Dow. Twice a year, Essex County, Prosecutor Dow feels Prosecutor Dow lectures to fifty recruits obligated to teach the ethics course herself. per class about the importance of integrity. “Leadership begins from the top and I’m “There are still too many cases in New setting the appropriate example,” Jersey of police abuse and corruption. continued Prosecutor Dow. Officers are exposed to circumstances that During the lesson, Prosecutor Dow dis- cussed recent police corruption cases and how they undermined the public’s view of law enforcement officers. She spoke about the case involving Essex County Corrections Officer Jay Griggs, who plead guilty to smuggling drugs to inmates in 2006. “He broke his pledge as a sworn officer of the law. His disgraceful conduct will not only cost him his job, but will cost him time on the other side of the jail,” said Prosecutor Dow.

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Dow is not tolerant of officers who Detective Norman Price was found disobey the law and feels that there should guiltyof money laundering, official be no double standard. “I feel that we misconduct and conspiracy to commit theft should bring the hammer down on law by deception. He is presently serving a enforcement officers who engage in twenty year prison sentence. Criminal conduct. It’s a disgrace to all the hardworking people who put their lives Citizens deserve integrity from law on the line,” said the Essex County enforcement officers. They are Prosecutor. Prosecutor Dow wants the responsible for upholding the law. By recruits to remember to be honest, have teaching ethics to new recruits, Prosecutor integrity and treat all citizens fairly. Dow expects it will encourage them to act with honesty and decency and to avoid Five law enforcement officers between corruption. 2006 and 2007 were prosecuted as a result of misconduct. In 2006, East Orange \\\\\\\\\\\

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Grant Funding Supports Expansion and Innovation

By: James Gerofsky, Senior Program Analyst

The federal and state governments offer support expenditures from the general the county prosecutors’ offices of New operating budget, which is provided from Jersey a variety of grant opportunities, County revenues by the County Board of which provide funding resources to Chosen Freeholders. In 2007, the general support and enhance specific activities. operating budget for the Essex County These activities reflect a variety of law Prosecutor’s Office was approximately enforcement priorities as determined by $33.7 millon. our legislative policymakers. Such grant programs allow a county prosecutor’s The acceptance of grant funding commits office to enhance its traditional the Office to a variety of administrative investigatory and prosecutorial functions conditions and responsibilities that do (e.g., narcotics and child abuse squads). In indeed require special consideration. For addition, grant each grant received the funding allows the Prosecutor designates an county prosecutor to operations manager who establish new is responsible to carry directions for his or out the grant in full her squads, such as compliance with all implementing a conditions of the award. vehicular homicide This reflects the fact that team within the each grant is a fully homicide unit. enforceable legal Finally, grant funds contract, containing an allow a prosecutor’s extensive number of office to expand its conditions, procedures range of support and and time limitations community-outreach regarding the use of efforts, such as providing victim-witness funds. Prosecutor Dow notes the support services and youth anti-violence importance of satisfying all grant outreach efforts. conditions, “It is imperative that the chief law enforcement agency within the According to Essex County Prosecutor County is itself in full compliance with the Paula T. Dow, “Grant funding clearly law.” The County Board of Chosen bolsters the Essex County Prosecutor’s Freeholders must also review and approve Office’s ability to fulfill its core missions each grant award before any grant and to set up new programs that might not activities can begin. otherwise be possible.” In recent years, ECPO has received over $2 million per Grant awards also require the regular annum in grant funding. Grant-funded reporting of progress and spending, programs supplement and enhance the usually on a monthly or quarterly basis. core law enforcement and managerial At any time during the course of grant or

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after its conclusion, the awarding agency • The institution of several has the right to audit all records of the advertising media campaigns Essex County Prosecutor’s Office utilizing bus posters and billboard regarding the grant in question. The ads, focusing on gun violence and ECPO Administration Section supports aggressive / life-threatening driving each grant manager so as to assure that habits. grant funds are properly used and • The institution of a sexual assault reported, and that County policies and forensic examiner program, which requirements regarding the accounting of gathers evidence from sexual assault funds, the hiring of staff, and the victims using high-quality, procurement of supplies and equipment standardized procedures at local are followed. Both hiring and hospitals, and at the same time procurement are governed by specific addresses the victim’s immediate provisions of the New Jersey statutory support needs. code. In addition, such actions are guided • An academic-quality study by policies set by the County Executive. regarding the use of closed-circuit Furthermore, since most grants involve TV videotape systems for the federal funding sources (even though recording of the testimony of child intermediated by a State agency), they are abuse victims in child assault cases, subject to federal regulations regarding and an ancillary study regarding the grant usage. trauma effect on child victims of sex assault who testify before a grand Despite this array of bureaucratic hurdles, jury. the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has • A cold-case DNA effort for violent been quite successful in gaining and cases, to determine whether organic efficiently utilizing grant funds. Within evidence is available from the ECPO the past 5 years, a variety of grants have cold case inventory that can be been received by ECPO from the NJ subject to the latest DNA analysis Division of Criminal Justice, the NJ techniques. When such evidence is Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the NJ identified, the program will follow Division of Youth and Family Services, up with lab testing and renewed and the US Department of Justice. Some investigation as appropriate. of the highlights from this period include: In addition, a variety of recent grant • The start-up and continuation of an awards have bolstered the resources investigation program within the available to the Gang Unit, Narcotics Unit, Arson Unit dedicated to insurance- Homicide Unit, Megan’s Law Unit, related auto fires. Community Justice Unit, Child Abuse • The procurement and successful use Unit, Juvenile Unit, and the Victim of a computerized case management Witness Office. Also, the Office is system for the Arson Unit’s auto-fire currently participating in a grant program program. managed by the County of Essex that seeks • The expansion of support services to implement a digitalized information from the Victim-Witness Office to sharing system for arrests and incidents domestic violence victims in reported by local police. Funding has municipal courts (where the been provided by the State of New majority of domestic violence cases Jersey’s Public Archives and Records are handled). Infrastructure Support Program to set up

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the first-phase of a computer system that In conclusion, governmental grant ties together the Newark Police funding is a vital resource to the Essex Department, the Essex County Sheriff’s County Prosecutor’s Office. The Office Office, the Essex County Corrections will continue to emphasize the careful, Department, and the proper and efficient Essex County use of all grant Prosecutor’s Office. This funding received, and system is now under will continue to development. aggressively seek new funding to help meet Additional funding to the challenges of the extend this system to all 21st Century. local police jurisdictions within the County is currently being sought.

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