Today is a sad day for Ocean County,

After 4 and and a half years, of the typical 5 year term, Joseph Coronato is leaving OPCO.  Prosecutor Coronato will resign effective October 8th, at the behest of Democratic Governor, Phil Murphy.

Procescutor Coronato has been told he needs to step down ASAP. This was despite pleas to finish work on various community programs. Programs such as Ocean County’s Blue HART (Heroine Addiction Recovery Treatment) program and the Ocean County Opiate Task Force along with Law Enforcement wins like the largest drug bust in Ocean County in 30 years  have come together to cause a rapid decline in overdose deaths in Ocean County.

Prosecutor Coronato testified before Congress, there was a 20% reduction in deaths related to Overdose. 65% of the 174 total deaths related to overdose in 2017 showed that the victims had fentanyl in their systems. In 2018 there has been a 35% increase in the number of drug samples that contained fentanyl. Coronato has been working with the federal government to block illegal imports of fentanyl.

A rise in deadly drugs like fentanyl while at the same time showing a rapid decline in deaths in Ocean County, are a testament to the work the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office have been doing under the leadership and guidance of Prosecutor Coronato. His team has also been a steady supporter of independent news media, and reached out to publications such as our own on many occasions with press releases and information so that the real stories get out there.