PD Commish: Violent Crime Down 12.9 Percent
/By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com
Suffolk Police Commissioner Timothy Sini gathered with a delegation of local officials to announce reductions in Huntington Station crime as a result of a months-long initiative to curb violence in the area.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini, alongside other local officials, announced Monday that violent crime in Huntington Station is down 12.9 percent in 2016, year to date when compared with 2015.
“It is impossible to achieve the results that we’ve achieved in Huntington Station without the true partnership of community members, of our local governments, of our county government, of our state government,” Sini said.
Violent crime in Huntington Station has dropped 71.4 percent in the past 28 days, as compared to the same period in 2015, Sini added. Property crime in Huntington Station is down 8.3 percent in the last 28 days as compared with last year, and it’s down 11 percent year to date when compared to 2015.
“The SCPD is committed to reducing crime and increasing the quality of life for all residents throughout Suffolk,” he said. “We’re going to continue to drive crime down and increase the quality of life in the Huntington Station area.”
As a result of a string of violence over the summer, police implemented a “major crime reduction initiative” from Aug. 8 through Nov. 11. Sini said that 276 people were arrested in Huntington Station on 398 total charges; and 25 people have been arrested in Greenlawn on 29 total charges.
In regards to gang violence, Sini said police have conducted “numerous” debriefings and arrests of suspected MS-13 gang members.
Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone cited the crackdown on Melissa Restaurant — a bar in Huntington Station that has been the site of repeated reported acts of violence over the last five years — as an example of the combination of town, county and state forces that have led to the crime reduction.
“I believe that we are now in some sort of partnership that truly melds together the expertise that we each have,” Petrone said. “The town has afforded some new resources, and our park rangers especially, to assist and help our police department. Nothing would get done unless you collaborate.”
State Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R-Huntington Station) thanked businesses and civic associations for their assistance in building a community network to help law enforcement.
“This is a very personal issue for myself having been born and raised in Huntington Station and living there for over 30 years,” Lupinacci said. “I just feel gratified that all levels of government are working together.”
Suffolk Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport) said that the numbers show that crime is down, but that “we have to deal with the perception.”
“I’m proud to be a family man here in Huntington, a small business owner and stakeholder. And, when we see all of these resources coming together, the message is clear: Huntington is one of the best places to live in this country,” Spencer said.
Longtime Huntington Station resident and activist Jim McGoldrick stayed positive, but believes that there’s still work to be done.
McGoldrick said, “Is it better in Huntington Station? Yes it is. But, you know what? We still have a way to go.
Huntington Station Crime Statistics
According to statistics provided by Suffolk police, year to date, 2016 has been the least violent year in Huntington Station over the past decade.
Through Oct. 31 of this year, there have been 54 violent crimes committed in Huntington Station.
Police also provided statistics for the total number of violent crimes committed in Huntington Station each year, going back to 2007. In 2007, there were 117 such incidents; 137 in 2008; 131 in 2009; 100 in 2010; 82 in 2011; 89 in 2012; 77 in 2013; 78 in 2014; and 70 in 2015.
As for property crime, there were 703 incidents in 2007; 882 in 2008; 810 in 2009; 859 in 2010; 572 in 2011; 640 in 2012; 578 in 2013; 454 in 2014; and 442 in 2015. Year to date, there have been 334 incidents.
Across the Second Precinct, violent crime has halved since 2007. That year, there were 241 incidents. There were 266 in 2008; 275 in 2009; 207 in 2010; 176 in 2011; 188 in 2012; 179 in 2013; 179 in 2014; and 153 in 2015. Year to date, there have been 115.
With respect to property crime across the Second Precinct, there were 2,756 incidents in 2007. 3,431 in 2008; 3,315 in 2009; 3,451 in 2010; 2,806 in 2011; 2,859 in 2012; 2,456 in 2013; 2,163 in 2014 and 1,907 in 2015. Year to date, the figure is 1,707.
