Pharmacists trained to safeguard workplace

Suffolk police trained pharmacists Tuesday on how to safeguard their workplaces from robberies and other crimes related to prescription drug abuse.

"We want to make sure that we are providing a safe environment for employees, for pharmacy staff and for the customers," Richard J. Zenuch of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma Lp told a conference in Brentwood Tuesday. "We can't control the actions of someone intent on committing a crime, but perhaps we could create an inhospitable environment."

More than 100 people, mostly pharmacists, store owners and their staffs, attended the conference, which was aimed at helping them safeguard their stores from prescription drug abusers who target them.

Zenuch advised pharmacy workers to "comply, comply, comply" when confronted.

"The goal is to end that encounter as soon as possible."

The session, held on the campus of Suffolk County Community College, is part of the department's three-pronged pharmacy safety initiative that comes after deadly robberies in Seaford, where an off-duty federal agent and the suspect were killed, and Medford, where Long Island's deadliest mass shooting in 18 years occurred after a robbery for prescription drugs left four dead.

The other two facets of the initiative are increasing Crime Stoppers rewards for pharmacy crimes to $5,000 and highlighting a program that gives residents a place at police precincts to dispose of unused prescription drugs.

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Laura Sheffield Bustamante, daughter of Bryon Sheffield, one of two customers killed during the Father's Day shootings in Medford, spoke at the end of the presentation. She said the abuse of prescription drugs shows there are no borders within the classes of society.

"Whether the drugs are being prescribed or illegally obtained, our society is in grave danger," she said.

She called on the audience to push for stopgap measures and legislation to curtail the abuse of prescription drugs.

Pharmacy owner Ruby Masson, of Nesconset, said Tuesday's training centered on security, but little was said about the doctors who prescribe the narcotic painkillers.

"I do feel the doctors are overwriting scripts," Masson, a board member of the Long Island Pharmacists Society, said later. "They should be held accountable and held responsible for prescribing these drugs."

Masson installed surveillance cameras and a buzzer to allow customers in. Her store was robbed about 18 months ago. She said there's a sign posted at the entrance of her store warning customers they won't be let in if they are wearing hoodies, hats and sunglasses.

That's the attire typically worn by pharmacy robbers, Zenuch said in his lecture.

"At the moment it's very scary," Masson said.

Despite her precautions, Masson recently opened a pharmacy in East Setauket.

"I love my profession," she said. "I love helping people and I'm not going to be put down by those things."

With Patricia Kitchen