First Operation Take Back of 2021 Yields 631 Pounds

Published on April 27, 2021

On April 24, 2021, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office participated in Operation Take Back in partnership with four local police departments. Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Chief of Detectives Chris Kimker, Hanover Township Chief of Police Mark D. Roddy, Morris Plains Borough Chief of Police Mike Koroski, Morris Township Chief of Police Mark DiCarlo, and Randolph Township Chief of Police David Stokoe all aided in the coordination of the April 24 event.

Operation Take Back is a semi-annual event coordinated nationally by the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in which law enforcement agencies at the state, county, and municipal level work collectively to host Operation Take Back across the nation. The goal is to encourage the public to anonymously turn over unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medicine for proper disposal. 

Residents of Morris County were able to bring unused or expired prescription drugs to three designated locations - Shoprite of Greater Morristown in Hanover Township, the ACME Supermarket in Randolph, and the Stop and Shop Supermarket in Morris Plains. All drugs collected at the sites were weighed and properly destroyed by law enforcement officials.

 

The total weight in drugs collected from each location are as follows:

  • Shoprite of Greater Morristown: 176 pounds
  • Stop and Shop of Morris Plains: 68 pounds
  • ACME of Randolph: 387 pounds

Total: 631 pounds

 

In 2020, the Operation Take Back collection held October in Morris County locations yielded a combined 502 pounds.

If you were unable drop off your medication during Operation Take Back, you can still utilize any other permanent drop box locations nearest you, which are listed at http://safehealthymorris.org/dropbox

Acting Prosecutor Carroll and Sheriff Gannon jointly stated, “Year after year, Operation Take Back in Morris County has consistently yielded hundreds of pounds of expired and unused medications, demonstrating how much the community relies on this service. Our residents are active participants in combatting prescription drug misuse. Thank you to our law enforcement and commercial partners for making this event a success.”

Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at [email protected] or by phone at 973-829-8159.   

OTB Spring Stop & Shop 1.jpg

Front left to right: Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and Morris Plains Borough Chief of Police Mike Koroski.

Back left to right: Morris Plains Councilwoman Nancy Verga, Morris Plains Councilwoman Joan Goddard, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Chris Kimker, Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr, Morris Plains Cathie Kelly, MCPO Det. Supervisor Thomas Joiner, Morris Plains Ptl. Ann Marie Ferris, MCPO Sgt. Patrick LaGuerre, and MCPO Capt. Stephen Ortiz. 

 

OTB Spring Shop Rite.jpg

Left to right: Morris Township Police Ptl. Darren Dungee, Hanover Township Police Ptl. Dan Acquaro, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Supervisor Spence Osaigbovo, Det. Lawrence Krajc, and MCPO Capt. Stephen Ortiz. 

 OTB Spring Randolph 1.jpg

Left to right: Randolph Police Ptl. Daniel Sullivan, MCPO Det. Mark Rodgers, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Chris Kimker, MCPO Matthew Belcastro and Randolph Police Det. Kyle Hefferon.