Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Gang Clothing On Roselle Park Student
Gang Clothing On Roselle Park Student
NEWSLETTER www.ucnj.org/prosecutor
Volume 9 Number 1 January 2006
Message From The Prosecutor
Those of you who read Will government leaders, in the year 2103,
The Newsletter regularly understand why we worked so hard to dismantle
know that I am an avid organized gang activity, to combat Human
student of history, and Trafficking at all levels, to educate young people
that I have benefitted and health officials about Shaken Baby
immensely by studying the Syndrome and to create special units to handle
policies and programs Insurance Fraud, Child Abuse and defendants
established by the Union with special mental health issues?
County Prosecutors who One year ago, the opening of a new DNA
came before me in order to forensic laboratory in Westfield was but a dream,
continue the tradition of and we were only hoping to have a safe, modern
excellence here in this location to house our Intelligence Unit, our Gang
office. Unit and our Narcotic Strike Force. Now, in this
Theodore J. Romankow It should come as no year of 2006, those visions are a reality but there
surprise to learn that I was is still so much more to be done.
deeply honored to be present when the original One thing is certain. We are working, with
cornerstone of the Union County Courthouse set in the support of the freeholders and the county
the year 1903 was opened to reveal documents, manager, to bring our information, prosecution
newspapers, coins and schematic drawings from and investigation efforts into the twenty-first
our government as it operated a hundred years century with all the resources we can muster.
ago. Your continued assistance is both welcomed and
I was honored again over the holidays to select appreciated.
yet another series of items to be placed back into With that being said, let me extend to each of
the cornerstone to give county residents a you my best wishes for a safe, healthy and
historical snapshot of the Union County productive year.
Prosecutor’s Office when the cornerstone is re- Theodore J. Romankow
opened again in the year 2103.
I ordered that a specially bound copy of the In This Issue
history of the office, dating back to the creation of
Union County back in 1857, be included in the ALERT................................................................................... 2
cornerstone as well as annual narratives Crime Stoppers of Union County....................................... 3
describing our efforts and an album of our current
State v. James Badessa: Even Drunk Drivers Have
staff. A great many of achievements come from the
Constitutional Rights.......................................................... 3
partnerships developed within the 21 municipal
police departments, the Union County Sheriff’s What’s Growing In That House? Law Enforcement
Office, the Kean University Police Departments Needs A Warrant For Thermal Image Check,
and the Union County Police Department. Electric Power Usage.......................................................... 4
This unique opportunity gave me a chance to Gun Surrender Program Continues To Get Weapons
reflect on some of the progress we have made, Off The Streets..................................................................... 5
with your help and support.
Recent Legislation............................................................... 6
Will the citizens who look back one hundred
years from now know why it was important to Summary of Recent Cases................................................. 7
expand our abilities to detect, arrest and prosecute Roll Call!............................................................................... 8
hundreds of drug dealers, to take down one dozen
major importation networks that supplied our Gang Hotline Phone Number............................................. 9
citizens with heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana Union County Prosecutor’s Office:
and oxycontin in such enormous quantities? A Historical Perspective..................................................... 14
ALERT!!!
Weapons we wish were not manufactured or so readily available to the general public
and other dangers you should be aware of. Be Warned...Be Careful...Be Safe!
The listed items were submitted by Detective Paul Han, Union County Prosecutor’s Office Counter-Terrorism Office Coordinator
CONCEALABLE FIREARM -- KEY RING GUN
This 80mm x 30 mm weapon can appear like a common key ring, a vehicle
immobilizer or MP3 player, and can be carried in pockets or around the neck.
Made of aluminum alloy and steel, and unusually light-weight, it separates
into two parts: the double barrel (silver section) and the rear key ring firing
pin mechanism (black section), and has an effective (accurate) range up to
100 meters, with a maximum range of over 800 meters. The muzzle velocity
is .32 calibre (275 meters/second, though that is likely to be less due to the short 30 mm
barrels. The trigger mechanism is cocked by simply pulling the key-ring section to the rear,
raising the two trigger buttons which can be fired separately. This mechanism may be prone to unintentional discharges.
A recent police raid yielded over 900 of these items, which were ready for distribution. A further 2500 parts ready for
manufacture and assembly were also recovered. It is suspected that 50 of these firearms may be in circulation. These
items are difficult to detect or identify, especially if carried disassembled, or with numerous individuals carrying parts.
While the firearm does show in X-ray facilities, it is not readily discernable from other items being carried, especially if
the weapon is disassembled.
RECONFIGURED “C” BATTERY USED TO STORE KEY RING GUN
WEAPON OR CONTRABAND (CONCEALABLE FIREARM)
During a routine search in the common area of a This flashlight/stun gun was found
housing unit, officers came upon what appeared to be during a secondary search at one of
a standard package of size “C” batteries. the security checkpoints at Indianapolis
However, these photos document how one of the International Airport on October 14,
batteries had been altered and was being used to 2005. It looks and operates as a
conceal a weapon. flashlight, but when you take the cover
The hidden compartment in the battery contained off, and insert
four pieces of steel which screw together to make a the key at the
very effective 6” ice pick-type weapon. The metal was bottom, it
wrapped in tissue paper to eliminate noise, and the turns into a
top of the battery was firmly in place when discovered. stun gun.
A contraband scanner failed to display the
contraband when the battery was screened.
Page 2
ALERT! -- continued
WARNING: SNOWMEN T-SHIRTS MAY INDICATE GANGS OR DRUGS
The prominent rapper Young Jezzy may have started a new trend which is bound to start
spreading for a while: Snowmen T-shirts. He wears a snowman necklace, and then apparently
began sporting a t-shirt with a snowman on it. Snowman is slang for coke dealer, and Intel
indicates that some wear the t-shirts to indicate they deal cocaine. A sample of the snowman
shirt was taken from a student in Roselle Park and his mother was "shocked and surprised" to
learn what it meant with police officers explained.
Whether or not these shirts are representative of the Bloods’ dawg paws (three circles), Gang
Officers have been seeing a trend of juveniles wearing the black or white tees with a snowman
depicted on the front, or a snowman with a frown wearing a red or blue bandana (indicating
Blood or Crip, respectively.)
The t-shirts are sold by the same outlets selling “stop snitching” and “snitches get stitches”
shirts.
More schools are banning the shirts, including some in Union County. Keep a lookout for
anyone wearing the shirts, and any businesses that are selling them.
Page 5
Recent Legislation
Please note the following recently enacted legislation.
Please contact Executive Assistant Prosecutor Anne K. Frawley (908-527-4650)
in the event you have any questions or should you need copies of the text of these statutes.
Copies of all New Jersey legislation and statutes may also be obtained on the Internet @ www.njleg.state.nj.us/
All legislation is effective on the date signed unless otherwise noted.
State v. John O’Hagen, 380 N.J. Super. 133 (App. Div. 2005)
In this case, the Appellate Division upheld the DNA Act (N.J.S.A. 53:1-20.7 to .28). The Court ruled that the Act
did not subject defendants to unreasonable searches and seizures and did not violate their federal and state rights
to equal protection.
State v. Atlantic City, 379 N.J. Super. 515 (App. Div. 2005)
In an opinion written by Judge Skillman, the Appellate Division affirmed the trial court’s ruling that a municipal
ordinance authorizing municipal health officials to distribute sterile hypodermic syringes to drug addicts conflicted
with the Code of Criminal Justice, which prohibits persons from using or assisting others in using controlled
dangerous substances pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:36-6. The statute preempted the ordinance, which was declared
invalid.
Page 7
Roll Call!
New Faces at the Prosecutor’s Office
Akinyemi T. Akiwowo, the newest Detective Edward P. Hanewald
Assistant Prosecutor in the Union comes to the Prosecutor’s Office after
County Prosecutor’s Office, is a 13 years of service with the Union
graduate of the Seton Hall University County Sheriff’s Office, the last seven
School of Law where he not only as a key Physical Training Instructor at
served as president of the Student Bar the John H. Stamler Police Academy in
Association, he also managed a 3.43 Scotch Plains. Detective Hanewald, a
grade point average and garnered a graduate of William Paterson College,
Presidential Scholarship. He obtained is a certified Physical Training
a Claver Scholarship while attending Instructor who took over as Lead
Loyola College in Baltimore, where he graduated with a Instructor in 2002 while still serving in the Sheriff’s Office.
Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in May of 2002. During his career there, he also served in the Court
Before joining the office, Akiwowo worked as a summer Security, Prisoner Transport and Fugitive Unit and was
associate at the Chatham law firm of Blume, Goldfaden, Sheriff’s Officer of the Year in 1998, when he also received
Berkowtize, Donnelly, Fried and Forte and was a Mediation the Sheriff’s Distinguished Service Certificate. Ed was the
Intern at the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland 1990 New Jersey College Pitcher of the Year not long after
State Attorney General’s Office in Baltimore. graduating from Arthur L. Johnson High School and holds a
Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Chief Parizeau graduated from the College of New Jersey, formerly Trenton State
College, before joining the department in March of 1981. He was promoted to the
rank of plainclothes detective on February 1, 1987 and served in the Juvenile
Detective Bureau before being promoted to Sergeant a year later. He became a
detective sergeant in 1997 and then to the rank of lieutenant a year later and then
made captain last February. "I am a team player, and I am looking forward to this
challenge," said the chief, adding he will be bringing improved technology to the
department by having computers in each police car and working to improve how each
officer can bring their efforts and talents to the department. Best of luck to you, chief.
Page 9
Hats Off and Good Luck to...
Garwood Police Chief Dennis K. Lesak is retiring this month after 28 years of
service to the borough, including more than five years as chief of police. The chief
is retiring to the Pocono Mountains area in Pennsylvania and is especially proud
that his father, who retired from the Garwood Police Department as a captain after
38 years on the job, got to hold the Bible when he was sworn in as a police officer
in 1978.
Chief Lesak, who supervised 16 officers and three civilian dispatchers in the
borough of a little over 4,000 residents, intends to take up golfing when he officially
steps down February 1. “It has been a wonderful career and I have been proud to
serve in my dad’s footsteps,” said the chief, who watched his dad as he served his
community and was part of the first father-and-son team in borough history.
In New Providence, Chief Douglas Marvin is stepping down as the borough’s top
law enforcement officer after a distinguished career that began when he served
citizens of in Chatham Borough as a Police Dispatcher in 1977 before coming to
New Providence in 1978 as a Patrolman. He was promoted through the ranks,
working in every position within the department, including detective, juvenile officer,
sergeant, lieutenant, captain and culminating with the Chief’s job in September of
2000.
“I am very proud of the accomplishments of the men and women of the
department, especially through our recent Accreditation by the NJ State Chief’s of
Police Association,” said Marvin, who considers himself I was fortunate to have
attended the FBI National Academy in 1991, the Certified Public Manager program
is 1993 and the West Point Command and Leadership program in 2003.
The chief said he did not have to move his office very far, since he left the job on
January 1 to become the borough administrator and is looking forward to new
challenges serving the residents of New Providence. “I feel truly blessed to have
been able to serve in law enforcement and especially blessed to have met and
come to know so many dedicated, caring men and women sharing the same
profession in Union County,” he told the editor of The Newsletter.
908-354-6366
This taped hotline number allows callers to provide detailed information about gang activity.
If they desire, individuals can leave their name and telephone number for follow-up.
Lt. Donald B. Moye walks out of Plainfield Police Division Police Headquarters for the last time
as fellow officers and co-workers gather to applause his grand exit after a great 30-year career.
The Lieutenant, who served for years as president of the Union County Juvenile Officers Association
and worked on many high profile investigations,
has started a new career as coordinator of the Homeland Security efforts
and school safety programs with the Plainfield Board of Education.
Way to go, Donald B.!
In Memorium
The Union County law enforcement community
mourns the sudden passing of
Scotch Plains Police Chief Mark E. Zyla
on October 13, 2005.
Page 11
New Promotions At The Hillside Police Department!
Hillside Police Chief Robert Quinlan
takes great pride in announcing the
promotion of six officers of the Hillside
Police Department to fill positions
created by recent retirements. At a
township committee meeting on
October 4, the officers took their oaths
of office to become promoted
permanently.
John Frize, promoted to the rank of
Deputy Chief, is a 24 year veteran of
this department. During his career he
has held many positions such as shift
commander in the patrol division and
Commander of the Detective Bureau.
He is one of the most decorated
officers in the Hillside Police
Department. He has earned two Hillside’s newest superior officers standing proudly, from left to right,
Distinguished Service Awards, four are Lieutenant Louis Rufino, Detective Sergeant Vincent Ricciardi,
Meritorious Service Awards and three Sergeant Benjamin Niewinski, Captain John Robertson,
Excellent Police Duty Awards. and Deputy Chief John Frize.
John Robertson, promoted to the
rank of Captain, joined the force in 1988. During his career he has held many positions such as detective, shift
commander in patrol and commander of the traffic bureau. He was a member of the Union County Narcotics Strike
Force in 1990. He has received over 25 letters of commendation and recognition. His awards include four Excellent
Police Duty awards and a Meritorious Service Award.
Louis Rufino, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, joined the force in 1985. During his career he received over 30
letters of commendation and recognition. He was assigned to the Union County Narcotics Strike Force in 1989. His
awards include the prestigious Valor Award, two Distinguished Service Awards, three Meritorious Service Awards,
and seven Excellent Police Duty Awards.
Vincent Ricciardi, promoted to the rank of Sergeant, joined the force in 1994. He has received over 10 letters of
commendation and recognition. Appointed to the Detective Bureau in 1999, he was assigned in 2005 as an
investigator to the Cyber Crime Squad of the FBI. In addition, he is the department’s Information Technology Officer
and is responsible for founding the department’s Honor Guard. Sergeant Ricciardi has earned an Excellent Police
Duty Award, Life Saving Award, and Chief’s Award.
Demetrios Katsoudas, promoted to the rank of Sergeant, Katsoudas joined the force in 1992. During his career
he has received 14 letters of commendation and recognition. He was cited for two Excellent Police Duty Awards.
Benjamin Niewinski, the third officer promoted to the rank of Sergeant, joined the force in 1998 and has been a
member of the patrol division since his appointment. He has received 7 letters of commendation and recognition. In
2004 he received the Excellent Police Duty Award.
“These men have earned their promotions through hard work, dedication to duty, and careers of outstanding
service to the residents of Hillside and they will continue to set the standards for others to follow,” said Chief Quinlan.
Prosecutor Accepts Remembrance Flag Marking Detective Daniel Seib III’s Tour of Duty
Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Daniel
Seib III presents Prosecutor Ted Romankow with a
special United States flag that flew over Iraq on April 24,
2005, to be permanently kept on display as part of the
detective’s personal remembrance of his service to our
country.
Seib, who is currently assigned to the Trial Unit,on the
fourth floor of the Ruotolo Justice Building in Elizabeth, is
a former Berkeley Heights patrol officer who served for
many years on the Union County Emergency Response
Team and the Essex Union Auto Theft Task Force who
completed tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait earlier this
year.
“He know how proud we are of him and all the law
enforcement officers who put their lives on the line over
there then and now,” the Prosecutor said.
Page 12
93rd Basic Police Training Class Graduates from John H. Stamler Police Academy
Please join us in congratulating the 91 -- yes, 91 -- recruits who graduated from the John H. Stamler Police Academy
on Thursday, December 8th, at the Union County Arts Center in Rahway.
Berkeley Heights Police Roselle Park Police East Newark Police New York / New Jersey
Department Department Department Waterfront Commission
Edward Gaffney Joshua Medrano Michael P. Lucas Brian McGuinness
Michael O’Donnell Robin A. Morante
Cranford Police Department Scotch Plains Police Catherine Mulhern
Thomas Stiansen Department East Orange Police
Gerard J. Rites Department Alternate Route
Elizabeth Police Tyshon Bryant Joseph Balwierczak
Department Westfield Police Angela C. Concepcion (Kenilworth PD)
Sergio Alexandre Marcela Department Grover J. Lewis III Lauren M. Bauer (Union
Arriola Frank A. Impellizzeri Anthony D. Taylor County Sheriff’s Office)
Orlando M. Barros, Jr. John R. Tango Keith Christopher
Yoan Belon Jersey City Police (Springfield PD)
Ken A. Charlenea Union County Police Department Donald S. Domanoski
Anthony J. Chodan Department Yamileth Arroyo Albert Domizi (North
William J. Deegan, Jr. Giovanni T. Arlia Ryan Friend Plainfield PD)
Louis P. Demondo Christopher S. Decker Shanna K. Gamez Christian Eriksen (Summit
William Dilollo Joseph Ferraioli Andrew La Bruno PD)
Carmine Giannetta Edward Lowe Adalberto Rivera Michael P. Hand (New
Jorge I. Joaquim Stephen Repella, Jr. Michael Rodriguez Providence PD)
Craig B. Lovett Keith Tarulli Luz D. Rojas Michael J. Heller
James Lugardo Maria M. Sanchez Todd J. Herz (Garwood
Edward J. Pinkevicz, Jr. Union County Sheriff’s Salvatore Sellitto PD)
Office Caleb L. Hough
Linden Police Department David J. Krill Perth Amboy Police Richard Jacobs, Jr.
Christopher M. Guenther Ryan Mullenix Department (Union County Sheriff’s
Martin Jedrzejewski Andrew L. Pappas Brandon M. Bucior Office)
Matthew Jones Jeffrey Thomas Emma Cabrera Dmitriy Mazur
Jacyn Mcphail David Guzman Gerald Mc Dermott
Peter J. Mitros Kean University Police Pascal Medina (Summit PD)
Ivan A. Ordonez Department Mabner Terron Christopher Medina
Afstratios Zevlikaris Salvatore Valentino (Summit PD)
Piscataway Police Kimberly Raguse
Roselle Police Department Carteret Police Department Department (Springfield PD)
Helder Freire Thomas J. Kaminsky Michael K. Paiano John Rattigan (Springfield
Rafael Rivera, Jr. Michael M. Kazio Raymond S. Pilch PD)
Jason Oxner Leslie Sanchez (Edison
Charles F. Reiman, Jr. Middlesex County College PD)
Louis A. Reyes Police Department Octavio Tapia
Marcus A. Rosario Michael D. Methner Anthony R. Voorhees
(Springfield PD)
Page 13
Thanks for “Counting Your Blessings”
Some folks call it the ultimate
“labor of love” while others say it’s
just a nice way of giving thanks
for the people and things we we
have at Thanksgiving.
Either way, the 24th annual
delivery of more than two tons of
food to crime victims and their
families was a huge success.
It starts when victim witness
advocates from the Union County
Prosecutor’s Office begin putting
out colorful boxes for county
employees to drop off their food
donations, continues when Union
Police Detective Joseph Casalino
picks up dozens of turkeys LABORS OF LOVE—
donated by the Union County (Above) Getting the turkey, stuffing and
holiday fixings ready for delivery to crime
Juvenile Officers Association and victims and needy families are, standing
ends Monday when hundreds of from left, retired Prosecutor’s Office
items get sorted and stacked for Captain Sal Apuzzio, Clerical Supervisor
delivery to selected needy Dina Apuzzio, Juvenile Justice Victim
families from throughout the Witness Advocate Andrea Geraghty,
county. Coordinator Elaine O’Neal, Victim Witness
“We had close to 50 boxes Advocate Liza Giuliano and Prosecutor
and baskets containing more than Theodore J. Romankow, while support
two tons of food alone coming in staff members Carol O’Leary and Patricia
from an Elizabeth boy scout troop that comes through year after year,” said Scrudato kneel in front.
(Left) Elizabeth Detective Mike Kelly,
Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, who noted donations are generally president of the county juvenile officers
down statewide because of New Jersey’s participation in the nationwide association, and fellow officer Nereida Rey
hurricane relief efforts. “Everyone asks why we do this, but it’s just a small helped the holiday team deliver the baskets
way for good people to make sure that some families in need know others this year.
really do care,” said Prosecutor Romankow.
It’s become known as “Counting Your Blessings” and it is all made possible by the police officers, assistant prosecutors,
county workers and the scouts from Troop 23 and Pack 23 from Saint Genevieve’s Church in Elizabeth. From more than
a decade, Scoutmaster Dan Bernier has led the charge with the youngsters putting out paper bags and residents filling
them up for pickup throughout the city.
Elaine O’Neal, coordinator of the Victim Witness Advocacy Office, said her staff works for days to sort, stack and pack
the food so that it can be delivered in time for Thanksgiving with families selected from violent crime case files and
recommendations from police. “We like to bring these families, who might have little or nothing on the table for
Thanksgiving, a small measure of holiday cheer to supplement the services we provide,” she said. Included among some
of the families from Rahway, Linden, Roselle, Plainfield and Elizabeth is a family devastated by the murder of the family
breadwinner and a mother who lost a son to senseless street violence.
O’Neal, who runs a homicide survivors’ group meeting each month at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Rahway, said
twenty turkeys came from the juvenile officers group headed by Elizabeth Detective Michael Kelly and another ten donated
as part of retired Prosecutor’s Detective Captain Sal Apuzzio’s annual contribution.
Tiffany Wilson Selected To Represent Local Girl Scouts At Historic National Convention
Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Wilson keeps herself busy in Plainfield,serving as community
prosecutor for the city, and as the Council President of the Girls Scouts Washington Rock Council. She
recently headed to Atlanta to take part in the 50th renewal of the Girl Scouts of the USA National
Council session, billed by GSUSA as one of the most important council sessions in history. The five
local delegates joined nearly 15,000 other Girl Scouts from the 50 states as well as representatives
from overseas.
In the midst of her first term at the helm of the local leadership scouting board, Wilson is a longtime
member of the GSWRC community, having come up through the ranks in Girl Scouting. A practicing
attorney, she served on the GSWRC Board for four years before becoming its President.
Founded in 1957, GSWRC serves nearly 11,000 girls and adults in 24 communities in a tri-county area.
The Council, under the umbrella of Girl Scouts of the USA, the country’s preeminent organization
dedicated solely to girls, is headquartered in Westfield.
Karl Asch
1970 to 1975
Karl Asch graduated from Linden High School and Columbia University Law School.
In 1970 Republican Governor William T. Cahill signed into law legislation requiring full time
Prosecutors and Assistant Prosecutors in New Jersey's nine largest counties and appointed Mr.
Asch to be Union County's first full-time Prosecutor. During the next five years Mr. Asch battled
with municipal police departments and county freeholders and even obtained court orders to expand staff and start
specialized units in municipal corruption, narcotics, organized crime, and gambling. The Prosecutor's Office staff tripled
during Mr. Asch's term due to the conversion to full-time status of all staff with personnel reaching 42 Assistant Prosecutors
and 72 detectives and investigators. The budget increased from $900,000 in 1970 to $2.7 million in 1975.
The Municipal Corruption Unit, based in Garwood, indicted several public officials, the most powerful being James
J. Kenneally, a Union County Democratic chairman, on 16 counts charging conspiracy to cheat the Rahway Water
Department through kickbacks on vouchers. Kenneally, a former water department official, died before he was brought to
trial. Convictions were obtained against Michael J. DeMartino, former Elizabeth Democratic councilman, John J. Wilson,
former Clark business administrator and Democratic assemblyman, both on bribery charges stemming from alleged
payoffs, Thaddeus F. Gora, Elizabeth Democratic councilman, on bribery-perjury charges, and Arnold D'Ambrosa,
Democratic first-term assemblyman and suspended Rahway public works superintendent, on charges of embezzlement
and misconduct in office. Republican Freeholder Edward H. Tiller was indicted by a state grand jury in connection with an
alleged scheme to award a contract to a friend after an investigation started by the Prosecutor's Office. Asch also
investigated the sale of city-owned land in Elizabeth for a Holiday Inn on Route 1, across from Newark Airport that
contributed to the federal prosecution of U.S. Representative Cornelius Gallagher for accepting a $20,000 finder's fee.
Gallagher eventually pleaded to one count of tax evasion.
Mr. Asch started the first Narcotics Strike Force east of the Mississippi River, initially funded with state and
federal funds, that became a model for other counties in New Jersey. The Prosecutor's Office combined its own personnel
with that of the municipal police departments and instructed them in the use of tactical enforcement procedures such as
wiretapping, search procedures, and evidence collection.
Under Mr. Asch, Union County was the first Prosecutor's Office in the state to have its own lab which was used for
controlled substances. Previously, all evidence had to be sent to the State Police facility which created time lags and chain
of custody issues. Case management improved because the Prosecutor's Office could control the process without relying
on state labs thereby improving turnaround times, using the same experts to testify, and prioritizing lab efforts.
Mr. Asch prohibited Assistant Prosecutors from participating in any type of fund-raising efforts of local politicians.
After completing his term, Mr. Asch formed the law firm Asch, Asch and Whitken where he gained notoriety and wide
experience as a trial attorney.
Some of the Assistant Prosecutors included the following (showing hometown and original appointment date):
John Callahan (Summit -- 2/28/64) Stanley J. Kaczorowski (Scotch Plains -- 9/7/65)
John H. Stamler (Scotch Plains -- 1/1/68) Neil S. Cooper (Union -- 9/9/68)
Henry (Hank) Jaeger (New Providence -- 9/9/68) Peter L. Korn (Cranford -- 9/8/69)
Michael J. Mitzner (Elizabeth -- 9/8/69) Frederic Shauger (Elizabeth -- 9/8/69)
Stephen F. Juman (Union -- 12/1/69) Kenneth Siegel (Rahway -- 1/19/70)
Elson Kendall (who was terminated by Asch's successor Edward McGrath as part of a general reorganization in the new administration)
Page 15
Union County Prosecutor’s Office Telephone Numbers
Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow............................................................................................................... 527-4510
First Assistant Prosecutor Albert Cernadas, Jr.............................................................................................. 527-4502
Executive Assistant Prosecutor Henry W. Jaeger......................................................................................... 527-4549
Executive Assistant Prosecutor Anne K. Frawley.......................................................................................... 527-4650
Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert P. O’Leary........................................................................................ 527-4621
Investigations Supervisor David J. Hancock.................................................................................................. 527-4661
Trial Supervisor Regina Caulfield................................................................................................................... 527-4515
Chief of Investigations Robert T. Buccino...................................................................................................... 527-4615
Administrative Services Unit Major Crimes Unit
Sergeant Edgardo Ortiz................................. 527-4604 Deputy Chief Edward Johnson...................... 527-4591
Appellate Section Child Abuse
Assistant Prosecutor Steven J. Kaflowitz...... 527-4593 Assistant Prosecutor John Esmerado..... 965-3879
Asset Forfeiture Section Lieutenant Ronald G. Reale.................... 965-3885
Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Haluszczak.... 527-4578 Homicide
Auto Theft Task Force Assistant Prosecutor Ann M. Luvera...... 527-4689
Captain Joseph F. Vitelli................................ 298-7840 Sergeant Carl Riley................................. 527-4695
Detective Michael Melillo.................................298-7840 Media Relations & Public Information
Criminal Case Control Unit Exec. Asst. Prosecutor Robert P. O’Leary..... 527-4621
Lieutenant Guy Steward................................ 527-4606
Narcotic Strike Force
Domestic Violence Unit
Assistant Prosecutor Thomas K. Isenhour.... 709-6516
Assistant Prosecutor Susan Gleason............ 527-4580
Captain Edward Fitzgerald............................ 527-4534
Detective Damien Borges.............................. 558-2399
Elizabeth Project PDC Unit
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Sheets............ 558-2054 Assistant Prosecutor Thomas P. Simon........ 527-4526
Forensics Science Unit Plainfield Project
Sergeant Joseph R. Koury............................. 527-4521 Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Wilson............. 226-0124
Gang Task Force Released Offenders Unit
Assistant Prosecutor Deborah A. White......... 709-6500 Assistant Prosecutor Sue Lewis.................... 527-4435
Lieutenant Abdel Anderson............................ 709-6536 Save A Life Today (S.A.L.T.) Unit
Exec. Asst. Prosecutor Robert P. O’Leary..... 527-4621 Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Wilson.............. 791-7131
Grand Jury Unit Special Offenders Unit
Captain Patricia Leonard............................... 965-3899 Assistant Prosecutor Maureen O’Brien......... 527-4557
Assistant Prosecutor David Schneider.......... 527-4675 Special Prosecutions Unit
Insurance Fraud Unit Assistant Prosecutor William Kolano............. 527-4673
Assistant Prosecutor Eleanor R. Beaumont. 527-4670 Lieutenant Steven Siegel............................... 527-4658
Intelligence Unit Arson
Lieutenant Kevin Foley.................................. 709-6541 Sergeant Richard Stamler....................... 527-4914
John H. Stamler Police Academy
Bias & Hate Crimes
Chief Anthony J. Parenti, Director................. 889-6112 Sergeant Ana Zsak................................. 527-4619
Joint Counter-Terrorism Task Force Sergeant Vincent G. Gagliardi................ 527-4696
Deputy Chief Gregory Clay........................... 527-4657
High-Tech Task Force
Detective Paul K. Han................................... 527-4563
Exec. Asst. Prosecutor Anne K. Frawley. 527-4650
Critical Infrastructure Coordinator Sergeant Andre Banks.......................... 527-4508
Philip C. Spinelli...................................... 527-4724 Sex Crimes
Juvenile Justice Unit Assistant Prosecutor Robert Rosenthal.. 965-3808
Assistant Prosecutor Doreen Yanik............... 527-4631
Laboratory Victim / Witness Unit
Sergeant Joseph R. Koury............................. 654-9847 Coordinator Elaine O'Neal............................. 965-3897
Newsletter Editors
Editor-in-Chief.......................................................................... Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert P. O’Leary
Recent Legislation................................................................... Executive Assistant Prosecutor Anne K. Frawley
Recent Case Law..................................................................... Assistant Prosecutor Steven J. Kaflowitz
Newsletter Layout & Production.............................................. Assistant Public Information Officer Karen E. Positan
Print Production....................................................................... Dora Ottaviano, Sign Shop
The Newsletter is published quarterly in January, April, July and October by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for use by
law enforcement officers. The opinions and recommendations appearing in articles do not necessarily represent those of
the Union County Prosecutor’s Office unless otherwise stated. The submission of articles from law enforcement agencies is encouraged.
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