Four Smithtown highway workers suspended on drug charges

Four Smithtown highway workers have been suspended after being arrested on town property on drug charges, according to officials.

The investigation leading to the arrests at the town highway yard of Nicholas Dirienzo, Nicholas Camizzi and two others began several weeks ago, town officials said.

Dirienzo, 21, was charged Feb. 5 with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance for having seven packets of heroin, according to a law enforcement source.

He also was charged with having a hypodermic needle and marijuana, according to online court records.

Camizzi, 25, allegedly had a small amount of heroin and was charged with possession.

Two other highway employees were charged with marijuana possession.

"The town board was shocked by the four arrests, and were pleased that [highway Superintendent] Mr. Glenn Jorgensen acted quickly to suspend the four immediately without pay," Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said.

Dirienzo was a highway labor crew leader and earned $45,876 in 2008, according to town personnel records. Camizzi was an auto equipment operator and earned $19,881 that year. Both were issued desk appearance tickets and are to appear in court on April 2. Attempts to reach both men were unsuccessful.

Like many Long Island communities in recent years, Smithtown has been hit with a rise in heroin use among young people who have increasingly sought treatment at drug and alcohol counseling centers. Heroin arrests have also risen substantially as police have dedicated more time and manpower to drug investigations.

The arrests involved members of the Suffolk district attorney's East End Drug Task Force, which includes local, state and federal agencies. Suffolk police and a Drug Enforcement Administration official declined to comment.

The Civil Service Employees Association president for Smithtown confirmed the suspensions and said the group awaits civil service hearings. Those hearing could result in the loss of their jobs. The union has applied to the home CSEA office for legal representation for the four. Union representatives and Jorgensen are encouraging workers to use the town's employee assistance program, said Smithtown CSEA president Kelly Brown.

"In no way are we saying that the town is infested with a drug problem," she said. "No one is taking any pleasure in seeing one department singled out."