Here's HOOVLER!

From the THR today, Heather Yakin:

GOSHEN — A row of long guns covered a table at the front of the room. Easels bearing photos of Newburgh Free Academy, South Junior High and Washingtonville Middle School flanked the table.

The guns and school photos underscored District Attorney David Hoovler's message: Where education and treatment fail in the fight against heroin, arresting the sellers is the next

The above describes a great photo op, another for our sprightly, camera-ready District Attorney. The guns and other staged items are quite sensational. And tying in education is a nice touch.

Please don’t get this wrong, this “heroin epidemic” does need to be addressed, but if it weren’t for the heroin, our DA would not have the photo ops that he seems to crave. (And it is nice to see the County Executive joining the fun!)

Speaking of treatment, have either the DA or the CE instituted programs that treat the 'end users" of the heroin, the real victims of these crimes? Many other jurisdictions have started programs that train police and other first responders in the proper use of an “antidote” called Narcon, which can save the lives of those who overdose. 

A comprehensive approach is needed to address this problem, boys, and it is not just an opportunity for you to get your picture in the paper. It is not an opportunity to appear to be doing the work instead of actually doing it. Oh, wait! Did the DA and the CE actually conduct the investigations? Did Stevie Wonder go pounding on a door yelling “open up, it’s the County Executive!”? Did Hoovler participate in a drug buy and then remove his coat to show the villains that he is Super-DA? 

                                                                                                

No, it was a multi-agency effort and it would have been nice to have the ones who really did the work, issue the press release, have the photo op and get the credit; not just stand in the background.

Is the DA coordinating with our Health Commissioner, Dr. Avila or the Director of Community Health Outreach, Robert Deitrich to work on solutions;  to not only enforce the law but to try to reduce demand and save lives? What specifically is the program that will be introduced to make sure education does not fail our children when it comes to this epidemic? Is that something a DA does or does it fall under the purview of the respective Boards of Education? Is the DA working with them?

A true coordinated effort for the sake of getting results?

Now, that’s a photo op.