Harrison PD Honored for Heroin Arrests; Announce New Drug Program

Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini announced Tuesday that citizens will be able to turn in drugs and drug paraphernalia to his department without threat of arrest and prosecution to end the scourge of drug-related deaths.

Marraccini made the statement as the department was honored Tuesday by state Sen. George Latimer (D-Rye) and Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains) for busting a drug ring in the days following last month’s deaths of two town residents from tainted heroin.

Seven suspects have now been arrested in connection with the sale of the heroin laced with fentanyl that caused the deaths of Lauren Greer, 29, and 26-year-old Mark Rubinstein on June 23 and 24. Six of the arrests occurred between June 24 and 28.

The two state lawmakers and Harrison officials pledged that they would continue efforts to strengthen efforts to crack down on drug dealers but are incorporating a strategy to help drug addicts who may shy away from help because they are frightened they will also face arrest.

Marracini, alongside the still grieving parents of Greer and Rubinstein, said that within the next two months, the department is launching a program called Heroin Opioid Prevention Effort (HOPE). They want to help those suffering from substance abuse because many people have become hooked through legal medications or when they were teenagers.

“There’s a distinct difference between drug dealers and drug addicts,” Marraccini said. “To me, drug dealers are a sophisticated organization, they’re a business-oriented organization that takes advantage of people’s lives…purely for profit. Drug dealers absolutely need to be held accountable for what they serve and for what they sell and for the consequences that these drugs have on families.”

The HOPE effort will also include an upcoming alliance with SOBA College Recovery, a New Brunswick, N.J.-based organization that provides treatment to those suffering from substance abuse. If someone reaches out to police in need of help, the department will have the ability to bring in a social worker or counselor through SOBA, Marraccini said. The program could be launched by Sept. 1, he said.

John Greer, Lauren Greer’s father, said his daughter might have been helped with such a program. Several years ago she was in a serious car accident and was prescribed pain killers to help deal with the discomfort of her injuries. The pain persisted and she opted for and became addicted to illegal narcotics despite stints in rehab, he said.

Greer said the drugs that are being sold on the street are more dangerous than ever.

“Today, they’re getting addicted so easily, it’s getting so dangerous and they don’t know what they’re taking,” Greer said. “They think they’re taking something that makes them feel good and they never wake up.”

Peter Rubinstein said his son became hooked on drugs in school. Although he became a social worker, he could never completely kick the habit. There is also the feeling of invincibility among teenagers and young adults.

“They don’t feel they can die,” he said. “They just can’t relate. They hear from friends and the media the things they can do and put into their bodies without consequence.”

Latimer said the Harrison cops were honored for breaking the ring, which was “an outstanding piece of police work.”

Meanwhile, Buchwald said during this year’s recently completed session in Albany, legislators approved a package of bills to improve treatment and access to treatment. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has since signed the measures into law.

The new laws call for health insurance companies to provide coverage for opioid treatment, restricts the insurance companies from limiting treatment and medications, reduces the amount of prescription opioids and increases inpatient treatment services.

While helping those who are addicted is important, helping police do their job is key, Buchwald said.

“There’s always more we can do, but part of why we honored the Harrison Police Department is because a huge part of this effort is about enforcement, stringent enforcement of existing laws, and making sure we convey to the community you really have to look out for your neighbors,” he said.

Marraccini appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity to police. He said the arrests made in this heroin case were made as a result of a small bit of information provided by community members.