November 10, 2010
By Ken Tarbous
Union County has more than 2,000 gang members, county Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow told the Old Guard of Summit during the club's meeting Tuesday morning at New Providence Municipal Center.
The western part of the county, including New Providence, Summit and Berkeley Heights, has much less of a problem than Plainfield, which is home to 800 gang members and Elizabeth, where at least 600 live, Romankow said.
"We know there are a lot of gang members we don't know about," Romankow said. "Elizabeth has many more gang members than has been documented."
Romankow and his staff of attorneys, detectives and analysts have been actively combating gang activity and the related drug distribution and homicides that go with it. As part of its ongoing efforts, the Union County Prosecutor's Office has won 350 convictions of major drug dealers, Romankow said.
Besides gang activity, the prosecutor spoke passionately about his background as an attorney, his experience fighting crime and putting away criminals, and his office's responsibilities.
In its push to tackle the homicide problem in Union County - there have been 23 this year, up from last year's 13. Romankow said that he has strengthened the prosecutor's homicide task force has been strengthened to include seven attorneys and 16 detectives.
In addition to investigating murders and other homicides, Romankow's office also is responsible for investigating child abuse. The prosecutor described in graphic detail the physical and sexual abuse children suffer at the hands of abusers.
Last year alone, 400 new files on the abuse of children age 12 and under were opened, and there were more than 650 reports of sex crimes and abuse of children 13 and over in Union County, he said.
"It's incredible what these people do. I tell people, 'If you don't believe in the devil, come to my office for about a week,' " Romankow said. "It's incredible what they do to these kids."
But Romankow, who oversees all of the police officers in the county, said there is more to his job than just convicting bad guys.
His has more than 260 employees in his office, which has an annual budget of $28 million, and he leads 68 assistant prosecutors, 75 detectives and other staff in helping keep the streets safe.
Last year, the Prosecutor's Office reviewed approximately 7,000 cases that resulted in an estimated 1,500 indictments, 1,500 plea deals, and 1,500 downgrades of charges that were handled by municipal courts, the prosecutor said.
"My job isn't just to prosecute these," he said. "We have other areas where we can do some good as well."
In his position, Romankow has championed an initiative to make the legal system more humane in its treatment of people with mental illnesses.
His efforts helped lead to the establishment of a mental health court in the county, and now the recidivism rate for offenders with mental illnesses has been reduced to just 25 to 30 percent, way below the national average of 90 percent, Romankow said.
"I am to the right of Attila the Hun when it comes to punishment. I just think there are some things that just should not be forgiven," he said. "But when it comes to mental illness…we need to do something."
He said it wasn't only the right thing to do but that it could save taxpayers the $65,000 per year it costs to keep people with mental illnesses in jail.
During his talk, Romankow told the audience his career as a crime fighter almost didn't happen. In 2002, he was considering retirement after a long career in private law practice when then Gov. Jim McGreevey offered him the job. Romankow felt he could be effective in pursuit of justice. And he said he enjoys the work.
"This is actually fun, and they pay me," he said.
Romankow spoke at the 3,605th meeting of the Old Guard of Summit, which celebrates its 80th anniversary next week. The club bills itself as a "retired men's organization" for men over 50, and it draws its membership from New Providence Summit, Chatham, Berkeley Heights and other surrounding communities.
The club holds weekly meetings on Tuesday mornings at New Providence Municipal Center, where featured speakers talk about relevant issues of the day. This week's meeting was attended by 112 members. The club boats an active roster of 150 members, with the rolls totaling nearly 350 men, according to Membership Chairman John McCloskey.
"We're doing a lot to replenish the membership, because in the past guys have been dying and moving on," McCloskey said.
Next week's Old Guard meeting features retired New York City police officer Richard L. Cowan, a club member who will speak on "Wasteland and Beyond: Anatomy of Undercover Cops."
For more information on the Old Guard of Summit, go to summitoldguard.homestead.com or contact McCloskey at (908) 233-0236.
By Ken Tarbous
Union County has more than 2,000 gang members, county Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow told the Old Guard of Summit during the club's meeting Tuesday morning at New Providence Municipal Center.
The western part of the county, including New Providence, Summit and Berkeley Heights, has much less of a problem than Plainfield, which is home to 800 gang members and Elizabeth, where at least 600 live, Romankow said.
"We know there are a lot of gang members we don't know about," Romankow said. "Elizabeth has many more gang members than has been documented."
Romankow and his staff of attorneys, detectives and analysts have been actively combating gang activity and the related drug distribution and homicides that go with it. As part of its ongoing efforts, the Union County Prosecutor's Office has won 350 convictions of major drug dealers, Romankow said.
Besides gang activity, the prosecutor spoke passionately about his background as an attorney, his experience fighting crime and putting away criminals, and his office's responsibilities.
In its push to tackle the homicide problem in Union County - there have been 23 this year, up from last year's 13. Romankow said that he has strengthened the prosecutor's homicide task force has been strengthened to include seven attorneys and 16 detectives.
In addition to investigating murders and other homicides, Romankow's office also is responsible for investigating child abuse. The prosecutor described in graphic detail the physical and sexual abuse children suffer at the hands of abusers.
Last year alone, 400 new files on the abuse of children age 12 and under were opened, and there were more than 650 reports of sex crimes and abuse of children 13 and over in Union County, he said.
"It's incredible what these people do. I tell people, 'If you don't believe in the devil, come to my office for about a week,' " Romankow said. "It's incredible what they do to these kids."
But Romankow, who oversees all of the police officers in the county, said there is more to his job than just convicting bad guys.
His has more than 260 employees in his office, which has an annual budget of $28 million, and he leads 68 assistant prosecutors, 75 detectives and other staff in helping keep the streets safe.
Last year, the Prosecutor's Office reviewed approximately 7,000 cases that resulted in an estimated 1,500 indictments, 1,500 plea deals, and 1,500 downgrades of charges that were handled by municipal courts, the prosecutor said.
"My job isn't just to prosecute these," he said. "We have other areas where we can do some good as well."
In his position, Romankow has championed an initiative to make the legal system more humane in its treatment of people with mental illnesses.
His efforts helped lead to the establishment of a mental health court in the county, and now the recidivism rate for offenders with mental illnesses has been reduced to just 25 to 30 percent, way below the national average of 90 percent, Romankow said.
"I am to the right of Attila the Hun when it comes to punishment. I just think there are some things that just should not be forgiven," he said. "But when it comes to mental illness…we need to do something."
He said it wasn't only the right thing to do but that it could save taxpayers the $65,000 per year it costs to keep people with mental illnesses in jail.
During his talk, Romankow told the audience his career as a crime fighter almost didn't happen. In 2002, he was considering retirement after a long career in private law practice when then Gov. Jim McGreevey offered him the job. Romankow felt he could be effective in pursuit of justice. And he said he enjoys the work.
"This is actually fun, and they pay me," he said.
Romankow spoke at the 3,605th meeting of the Old Guard of Summit, which celebrates its 80th anniversary next week. The club bills itself as a "retired men's organization" for men over 50, and it draws its membership from New Providence Summit, Chatham, Berkeley Heights and other surrounding communities.
The club holds weekly meetings on Tuesday mornings at New Providence Municipal Center, where featured speakers talk about relevant issues of the day. This week's meeting was attended by 112 members. The club boats an active roster of 150 members, with the rolls totaling nearly 350 men, according to Membership Chairman John McCloskey.
"We're doing a lot to replenish the membership, because in the past guys have been dying and moving on," McCloskey said.
Next week's Old Guard meeting features retired New York City police officer Richard L. Cowan, a club member who will speak on "Wasteland and Beyond: Anatomy of Undercover Cops."
For more information on the Old Guard of Summit, go to summitoldguard.homestead.com or contact McCloskey at (908) 233-0236.
