Riverhead High School Student Jumps In Front Of Train - Traumatized by Threat of Expulsion

The following zero tolerance nightmare occurred three years ago but will forever remain in the hearts & minds of the people whose children attend the Riverhead School District in Long Island...... It is unconscionable that our country allows this injustice to continue.

The Nightmare turn suicide:

Three years ago Robert Pace commited suicide by throwing himself in the path of a Long Island Rail Road train. Robert was on a high school trip to Great Adventure in New Jersey when his bag was searched at the park and drugs were found. He was arrested and taken to the Jackson Township Police Dept. When the police called the Riverhead High School (Long Island, New York), the school assistant principal said "He's not going back to New York with our kids." Robert found his way to New York City, and subsequently committed suicide before he could make it home. At first the school district denied preventing Robert from returning with the other kids on the bus. Subsequently, the Jackson Township police supplied audio tapes wherein the asst. principal was overheard staing the above statement.

Recently, at an August 26, 2003 school board meeting wherein that same administrator was being promoted to Assistant Superintendant of the Riverhead School District, Roberts father approached Joe Ogeka and shouted "You were the last person who could have saved my sons life." Several days later Bob Pace was charged with Harrassment and appeared in the Riverhead Town Justice Court (September 10, 2003) and the Judge told him he faced fifteen days in jail. Tomorrow, Monday, September 15, 2003, the District Attorney of Suffolk County will motion the court to dismiss all charges. This is against the wishes of the Riverhead School District.

Robert Pace died because of the Riverhead School Districts policy of zero tolerance. Tomorrow, hopefully, the District Attorney of Suffolk County will show that there is also zero tolerance for injustice in Suffolk County.

Respectfully, Daniel G. Rodgers, Esq. (631-727-6966)