Brookhaven town officials have pledged full cooperation with the Suffolk County district attorney's investigation into an alleged drug ring involving a Brookhaven town employee.
Supervisor Ed Romaine issued a statement Thursday saying he hopes that "anyone involved in this case would not be allowed to return to work until the issue is adjudicated."
"This sends a clear message that we will not tolerate wrongdoing by any employee in any town department," Romaine said. "It is disheartening that the image of honest, hardworking town employees can be tarnished by the criminal activity of a few."
A joint investigation into the buying and selling of large amounts of cocaine and Oxycodone, conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, began in January. District Attorney Thomas Spota on Thursday indicted six people, including town highway department employee Thomas Forkin, 30, of Miller Place, whom they say was the leader of the operation.
Spota said Forkin ran the ring on highway department time and from town-owned vehicles. Forkin faces charges of second-degree conspiracy, first-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.
Romaine and highway superintendent John Rouse said they will meet to "further examine the matter with a view toward continuing the highest standards of professionalism we have come to expect of all of our employees."
