Pitman officials seek to cool angry divide over anti-drug vigilantism

Many people on social media recently called the Pitman Police Department lazy, uncaring and poor at their jobs when it came to combating the drug issue many consider a crisis in the borough.

PITMAN — Many people on social media recently called members of the Pitman Police Department lazy, uncaring and poor at their jobs when it came to combating the drug issue many consider a crisis in the borough.

Some even went to the extreme of alleging borough police were being paid off by drug dealers.

Some borough officials hit the roof when they read those comments.

Mayor Russell Johnson said he could not sit idly by and listen to what he described as "absurd, ignorant comments made with zero facts to back them up."

The issue all began with lawn signs.

Jimmy Graham, a borough resident and former wrestling coach whose two sons have both battled opiate addiction, became fed up after he had discovered one of his sons had a relapse recently.

He is a staunch advocate of drug awareness and has helped numerous people addicted find treatment.

He went through his son's cellphone and identified those he believed were selling to his son. Several of the alleged dealers he said were former wrestlers of his, so he knew where they lived.

He went around to the houses where he suspected dealers lived and posted signs that read, "Not in our town, stop or leave," in red lettering.

"I found text messages from the culprits. They were selling heroin and Oxys," said Graham referring to the street name of OxyContin, a potent opioid painkiller with a high rate of abuse.

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He also posted video footage and photos on his Facebook page calling out drug dealers. One photo included a picture of an aluminum baseball bat.

Nevertheless, he said: "I'm not a vigilante."

He had two goals — one was to raise awareness.

"The other was call them out," he said. "Some of them were my athletes (and) I'm still Coach Graham."

Graham has compassion toward the illness of addiction. But he wanted the drug dealers out. Or, he at least wanted them to feel shame. The signs were a way to do that.

But, Pitman Police Chief Robert Zimmerman said the signs were doing harm and ultimately ruined ongoing drug investigations.

Zimmerman initially demanded on Facebook that residents not take matters into their hands.

Graham knew Zimmerman was talking about him and earlier this week said he was surprised by what he felt was a harsh reaction by Zimmerman.

"It hurt me because I've broken no laws," Graham said.

Zimmerman, in an email on Wednesday wrote that he understands the frustration, but that those who "overstep the boundaries by attempting to take matters into their hands put themselves and others in the community at further risk from both a safety and liability standpoint."

He added: "Posting video footage and pictures on a public Facebook page with direct and veiled threats toward drug dealers — including one picture of an individual posing with an aluminum baseball bat, as well as one statement proclaiming that "masks are optional," — approaches, if not crosses, the line into vigilantism."

The heated discussion over drugs in the town and how law enforcement was handling the problem got out of control, Johnson said.

"It forced people to choose (sides), and I didn't want that," Johnson said.

Johnson and Zimmerman recently sat down with Graham to figure out a way to work together.

Graham was not available for comment on Friday to talk about the meeting.

However, Johnson said he felt it was productive and thinks it will help residents and police work together.

"We put our cards on the table, and we were able to come to an agreement that we are going to work together," Johnson said.

According to Johnson, Graham assured that he has no desire to be a vigilante. Johnson said that Graham gave his word he would not put signs on lawns of those he suspects are drug dealers.

"The only thing we were concerned about was with the suggestion of vigilantism," Johnson said.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.