Safety Tips for the holidays from the 4th Precinct

Its that time again! The holidays are a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends but I would like you to take a few minutes out of your day to read the following helpful tips I have compiled. Most of them are applicable for any time of the year. These are not to make you paranoid but to keep you safe.
First I want to address shopping and while this may sound as though I am picking on the women it needs to be put out there. I myself witness this every single time I am in a store that utilizes shopping carts. Ladies, please do not place your pocketbook in the cart. It takes 2 seconds for a thief to snag your purse while you are taking that can off the shelf. Wrapping it around your wrist before placing it in the cart does not offer you any extra protection. It only gets you a sprained wrist or knocked onto the floor. I know pocketbooks are the "it" accessory but take a few minutes to think about security when purchasing a bag. You should look for a zippered opening, a wide open bag just held together with a snap is an invitation. It shouldn't be so large that you couldn't feel or see someone reaching into it. Think about the cross body bags, the 80's fanny pack or even just taking the essentials with you while you shop. Wallet and keys in one pocket. Cell phone in the other.
Once outside the store and going to your car, limit your distractions. Get off the phone. Check your receipts later. Look around. Hopefully if it is dark out you parked near a light if it was available. Always think, is a thief watching me? Am I a target? Do you have a purse swinging low on your arm? Do you have small children that are commanding your attention? When you are loading and unloading your car where is your purse? In the cart? In the car? If it's in the car did you think about locking all the doors and only opening the trunk separately as you load in your purchases?
Sometimes shopping takes on a life of its own and we go to the car to drop off our goodies and go back into the stores. Good idea…but you may want to think about leaving that parking spot and parking elsewhere before going back in. Not convenient, but if I was a thief and I just saw you do that I now know I have a decent window of opportunity to pop that trunk lock and remove the entire contents of your trunk. People could walk by and it would probably not raise an eyebrow.
Gift cards are a great idea, however look to purchase the ones that are behind the counter and not in a accessible display area. For the technically savvy thief there is a way to gain information from the gift card that once purchased by you allows them to gain access to that same card and use the monetary value up all before you even have given it as a gift. Stealing without even removing the card off the rack.
I don't sign the back of my credit cards. Instead I write "Please ask for I.D." in a heat proof, chemical proof Sharpie type marker. It doesn’t always happen but more and more sales people are checking. I show my license and continue with the transaction.
If you don't already, start monitoring your credit. Think about placing a lock on your credit so a would be thief cannot open up new credit in your name. There are several credit monitoring companies that offer services to protect you from just that. Periodically check your minor children's credit. They too have social security numbers that can be compromised. Shred all paper that has any identifying information about you. Look for a cross cut type shredder. It's an extra expense but it may be well worth it.
Soak or scratch off your labels on all of your prescriptions bottles before discarding them.
When fueling up self service, remove your keys from the car. Take with you only the money you will need or the single credit card you will be using. Lock the doors and then fuel up. Ignore the TV ads they now have, it’s a distraction. Look around you and again…off the phone.
Its now gotten darker earlier, many of us come home to a darkened home. Purchasing some timers to turn on sporadic interior lighting is a good idea. Exterior lighting is very important. Your home doesn't need to look like the runway at an airport but it should be well lit and no areas with high/ dense shrubs close to the home. Basement windows are an easy way for a burglar to gain access to your house. Have them alarmed. Look into barrier bars. Have a deadbolt on the basement door that accesses the first floor. If an intruder does get in he or she only has access to the basement and will have an interesting time climbing out of those small basement windows. Another deterrent is some low thorny bushes around the window wells. Patio/Sliding doors tend to have the flimsiest locking mechanisms. Bars or extra locks are helpful. Can't afford an alarm system? Get the stickers and the lawn decals.
If you are going away for the holidays, tell a neighbor or two. Have them park in your driveway or in front of your home. Ask them to pick up your mail/packages and even place their garbage pail at your curb once in awhile.
After you removed your Wii, Flat screen or DVD player from its box, break it down or cut them up with the inside facing out before placing at the curb. Why advertise what can be stolen from your home?
I know this was lengthy but sometimes we all can use a safety reminder. I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Happy Holidays

Just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year. May you all find peace, joy, health and prosperity this season.

Warmest regards,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Verizon Box on Morris Ave

I am trying to get the Town to get with Verizon on this and get it fixed!

Received a issue from a NW member concerned abou the hole on the Morris Ave side left by Verizon:

Noticed the gates yesterday, nice job on getting it done, now we need to see what we can do to get the whole filled in by Verizon in the front of the park. A couple of years ago a similar whole was left in front of my house on Morris Avenue and after two months I called Verizon and complained...like the one in front of the park, the fence fell apart and the whole was exposed. I told them it was only matter of time before some kid fell in the whole or someone got hurt. When they got back to me they told me, someone dropped that ball and the "whole" had been for gotten about...this could be the situation with the one there now. Within a week they came and took care of it.

I still have the business card of the local maintenance manager but its been a couple of years and don't know if he's still in charge or if they are still in the St James office.

Powerwashing

Power-washing is being done as I type to remove vulgar graffiti recently done on the ply areas...

GATES

Gates are finally being installed this morning. The Sycamore Ave side has been completed, and Morris Ave is being worked on as I write this. There are also piles of dirt on Sycamore Ave side; I am not sure what Town plans to do with those piles. I had asked for walkways to be paved up to the track, but we'll see what they do...

**If you are using the park with children or see children in the park when you enter- please close the gate upon entering and exiting to ensure children stay in and not run out into the road. This is the whole point of the gates. I would hope everyone agrees and adheres to this. It is only for our children's safety from Sycamore Ave's speeding cars....Thank you all for caring. **

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Community Meeting at 4th Precinct REMINDER

Tomorrow evening at 7pm is the next Community Metting.

Another Neighborhood Watch Story...(local to us)

The Perfect Neighborhood Watch

10/25/2011 7:12:50 PM

To All Members of The Perfect Neighborhood Watch:

I‟d like to share something that happened to a co-worker of mine. I‟ll try to keep it short but still make a point. Last Wednesday a woman I work with was leaving her house at approximately 6 pm. She lives in a nice area with relatively little crime about 6 miles away from us. As she was getting into her car she was approached by a male, mid 20‟s on a bicycle. As she opened her car door she noticed he put his bike down on the curb and was walking towards her. He yelled to her “I need your phone”. Surprised, she told him “I don‟t have a phone” which she didn‟t. He said “You have to have a phone” and was now only a few feet away. Luckily, her husband was standing at the front door on the porch and saw and heard all this. He yelled „What‟s going on” to which she replied “He needs to use a phone”. The husband, feeling uneasy about this guy being so close to his wife and wanting him to move away from her, told him “you can use the house phone” 1. The male, taken by surprise the husband was outside watching, started to walk towards the house. Inside the house, the husband told him, “You can use the kitchen phone”. At this point, the husband admitted to me later, he felt very uncomfortable, almost to the point of nausea. The man came out of the kitchen, walking very fast, and said “Your phone is broke”. The husband walked into the kitchen to check the phone as the man was walking out the front door and realized, all of the keys to their cars hanging next to the phone were gone. Before he could even say anything, he heard his son‟s truck alarm chirping off. His son was upstairs.

The male took the keys and was now sitting in his son‟s truck (A brand new Ford F-450 Super Duty) trying to find the ignition key. The husband yelled to his son who came running. The son opened the door to the truck and starting to punch the male while trying to pull him out. Unfortunately, the male got the truck started, and slammed it in reverse. The son was knocked down since he had the driver‟s door open and was close to getting run over (he did have several injuries discovered later on).

The truck careened across the street in reverse, up the neighbor‟s lawn and into their fence. The male panicked and fled, got back on his bike and got away. The son (along with his 2 other brothers) called the police and set out looking for this guy...only to find him 30 minutes later... coming back down the street on his bike. One son went back to the house were a sector car was taking the report and told them the 2 brothers were chasing the guy down the block. Many police cars flooded the area as well as a helicopter and a K-9.

The K-9 eventually got the guy hiding under bushes a few homes away. Turned out he had multiple warrants for his arrest. When the male was asked, why did you come back down the same street, he told them “for the truck”. Again, this is not to alarm people, but just to let you know what is happening around us.

Mulching of Play Areas

Mulching finally was completed yesterday morning after having to remind Town to have crew return to complete the task.

HauppaugePatch Article

Neighborhood Watch Nabs Wanted Man

Resident's series of emails about suspicious vehicle result in arrest of a Brentwood man with an outstanding bench warrant.

• By Sara Walsh
• Email the author
• October 14, 2011

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The careful observations of a Hauppauge neighborhood watch have resulted in the arrest of a Brentwood man with an outstanding bench warrant.

The Perfect Neighborhood Watch of Hauppauge sent an email Oct. 11 warning its more than 200 members to keep their eyes open for a suspicious White Ford Expedition. Residents has noticed the driver of the vehicle waiting near a school bus stop, then at the corner of Glenwood and Dewberry with a walkie talkie.

On Oct. 12, a member of the neighborhood watch called 911 reporting the same car parked at the end of Glenwood Drive. Suffolk County police arrived on the scene to question the man.

Suffolk County police arrested Jose Lazo, 28, of Brentwood on charges of false impersonation. Officers said Lazo gave his real name when questioned, but provided a false date of birth in efforts to avoid an outstanding Suffolk County bench warrant.

Lazo was wanted for one charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle from May 1, 2009. He was arranged on Oct. 13 in Central Islip Court and held on $3,000 bond.

Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization- Meet the Candidates

Election 2011: Meet the Candidates

The Executive Board has invited the following candidates to the General Membership meeting on

October 13th, 7:30 PM, at the American Legion Hall, 115 Church Street, Lake Ronkonkoma, to meet with our members.

The Board does not endorse any particular candidate or political party, but we do encourage our members to come to the meeting and ask our guests about the issues that are important to them.

Brookhaven Supervisor
Mark Lesko (incumbent)
Cecile Forte

Brookhaven 3rd Council District
Kathleen Walsh (incumbent)

Brookhaven 5th Council District
Timothy Mazzei (incumbent)
Thomas Cavanaugh

Suffolk County Executive
Steve Bellone
Angie Carpenter

Suffolk County 4th Legislative District
Tom Muratore (incumbent)
Joseph Turdik

Suffolk County 10th Legislative District
Tom Cilmi (incumbent)
James Heath

Suffolk County 12th Legislative District
John Kennedy (incumbent)
Martin Aponte

GATES

I spoke with Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh and have been promised the installation of Gates at all four (4) entrances/exits of Dorchester Park in approximately two (2) weeks. She advised the gates are against the will of Commissioner Ed Morris who claims they will be more to maintain. I advised this is for the safety of our community children and so what if they have to maintain. Better safe than have a child hit by a car!

Mulching of Play Areas

Mulching of play areas began today. I had asked because I have seen a lot of broken glass.

Town workers started the task but did not complete it due to some "drizzling rain"....I hope they will be back to complete it this week. I will call if they do not return in a timely manor.

Observing and Reporting

I urge everyone to keep observing and reporting any "goings-on in the community, and as well at Dorchester Park. Please keep the motto in mind, "If you don't report it...then it didn't happen"!!

Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Park Rangers

Please be aware that as of Nov.17th 2011, the eight(8) Park Rangers in Brookhaven Town are being most likely "laid off", as well as Code Enforcement (Park Police) cut-backs. This is not good. If anyone has the time to call and voice a complaint, please do so. Call our Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh's office at 631-451-6647 0r by e-mail at councilwomanwalsh@brookhaven.org

Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Gates

I am still pressing the town for the gates that were approved in July at all four (4) entrances to Dorchester Park. Last conversation was that a contract was in the works. I am trying to find out what is taking so long and to have what we were promised installed!

The Great Rake

I am planning to have another Beautification Event in November. This time it will be just raking and leaf bagging. I will let you know the date shortly. I hope that many can attend...we need all the help we can get...

Thank you,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Sticks and debris and general park clean-up

I have expressed to the Deputy Commissioner that Dorchester Park once again needs a clean-up. Sticks and debris from the storm at the end of August are all over and the grass needs to cut as well as the weeds around play areas. I also asked for re-mulching of play areas. I was told that the Parks Maintenance Department is still assisting the Highway Department with tree removal from the storm and that they will get to Dorchester Park as soon as possible. They did come to mow the grass yesterday though at least.

Gates

Spoke to Deputy Commissioner several times asking when gates that were approved back in July were going to be installed. Latest conversation was that a "contract" is in the works. I will keep asking and checking on this until they are installed! I want what we were promised....

If anyone has the time....

From: information@lakeronkonkomacivic.org

The Fitz-Greene-Hallock Homestead, the historic home (circa 1888) owned by the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society on Pond Road, is being repainted and they need your help. Volunteers have painted about 95% of house, but they need more volunteers to paint the porch, some windows, and the house facade just above the porch.

If you have some time on Saturday August 13th or Sunday August 14th from 9 AM to 4 PM, bring a brush and help put the finishing touches on Lake Ronkonkoma's premier historic home.

The Homestead is located at 2869 Pond Road, near the lake, between Norwood Lane and Weichers Street.

Contact Evelyn Vollgraff for more info: evllgrff@verizon.net or 631-588-7599.

Tonight's Community Meeting

Tonight's Community Meeting at the 4th Precinct has been rescheduled to August 3rd 7pm due to a scheduling conflict; the precinct apologizes for such short notice.

Gates

Good Afternoon All,

I am happy to announce that GATES at all four (4) entrances/exits to Dorchester Park have been approved as of yesterday per the Parks Deputy Commissioner and will be installed soon. I hope this will keep our little children a bit safer from the speeding, traffic and cars running the STOP Sign constantly on Sycamore Ave. especially!


Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Interesting Article about Graffiti on SachemPatch.com

Brookhaven Notebook: Graffiti Crackdown, Overpass Repairs
Town board adopts measure to help prevent graffiti.
By Christine Sampson

Brookhaven businesses who discover graffiti on premises will now have five days instead of 14 days to complete cleanup.

That requirement is the result of a measure recently passed by the town board aimed at preventing the occurrence of graffiti. The town cited research showing the quicker graffiti is removed, the less the chance the vandals will strike again – in some cases down to a zero percent chance of recurrence, if the graffiti is cleaned up within 48 hours.

“If graffiti is allowed to remain, it sends the message that no one cares about a community, or neighborhood and becomes an open invitation for more graffiti, littering, and crime," said councilwoman Connie Kepert, who sponsored the measure. "Graffiti hurts property values and frightens away businesses."

The town has estimated it spends around $200,000 annually to clean up graffiti.

Nighttime Nicolls Road Closures Begin

Starting July 7, drivers on Nicolls Road will experience nighttime closures between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. as repair work and maintenance of the Long Island Expressway overpass is completed.

Weather permitting, the closures will take place Sunday night through Friday morning for approximately five weeks.

"The better we maintain these bridges, the longer they're going to last," said Eileen Peters, a state Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

Peters said the work is part of a larger project facilitated by both federal and state funding which involves painting and performing maintenance on eight other similar bridges in the county, amounting to $5.2 million. In the case of the L.I.E. overpass in Holtsville, additional work was necessary to repair damage from a May 13 incident in which a truck struck the overpass.

"It was hit and sustained some severe damage," Peters said. "An outside contractor is now completing the repairs. In the meantime, they are proceeding with the painting project."

Gates

Spoke with Parks Commissioner yesterday and he is working diligently on getting gates for Dorchester Parks four (4) entrances per my request. I will update the Blog once I know more information about them.

Power-washing of playground equipment

Town has finally answered my request of power-washing the playground equipment after weeks of asking! There is a crew at the park as I write this power-washing...

Upcoming Community Meetings at the SCPD 4th Precinct

Fourth Precinct

345 Old Willets Path

Hauppauge - 854-8400

Serving the Town of Smithtown and the Villages of the Branch,

Islandia and Lake Grove

6/29 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct 10/26 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct

7/27 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct 11/30 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct

8/31 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct 12/28 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct

9/28 - 7:00 p.m. @ Precinct

Donations

Hello All,

We are in need of donations for our next park's beautification phases. If anyone has any plants, especially perennials, bushes, flowers, ground covering plants, ivy, or anything you would like to give us, we would really appreciate it. We are going to try to do garden beds along each entrance as well in the months to come. Please comment on the Blog to let me know.

Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Yesterday's Beautification Event

Good Morning All,

Yesterday was Phase I of our very first Beautification Event. I have to admit that initially I was very disappointed at some negative e-mails towards my want to beautify the park, the lack of response, and the lack of folks that showed up, however, it all turned out absolutely wonderful! It was a HUGE task but we completed it!
The people that did show and the folks that stopped by to drop off water and donate flowers was great. We had about 10 yards of topsoil and 10 yards of mulch delivered by the town yesterday morning and we moved it all by wheelbarrow to the area where the large bush was removed early this spring per my request. The town also brought in a stump and root remover and ground that all up for our event. As you frequent the park you will see the great job the folks that came to help out did. It is a start. There was no way we could do the entire park yesterday; as it was, we worked from 11am till 5:30pm on just the Morris Ave side. If we had more folks, we definitely could have gotten a lot more done.

SachemPatch.com was also in attendance at our event and did a story on Dorchester Park. You can read about it on SachemPatch.com. See link at top right of our Blog.

I want to personally from the bottom of my heart thank the folks that came to help out and drop off supplies. I know we are all sore today! Thank you for caring about this park; I hope that one day it will be as beautiful as we envision it to be.

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Yesterday's Beautification Event

Beautification Event at Dorchester Park, 05.21.11 11am-3pm

Just a reminder and hope all that are attending are ready to clean-up the park!

Morris Ave entrance

I have asked for stump & root removal for our Beautification Event before May 21st. Hope it gets done by then. I do not like how they left this after Bush removal! Terrible!

Play-yard Tube & half bubble

I have asked a million times for replacement since last years "bombing incident". Will keep on top of Town.

Track and Gates

I have asked for track repair and repaving and for gates again- not getting a response but will continue to press them.

Graffiti

This newest graffiti has been reported to the Town and also to SCPD. I have asked Town to power-wash again this past week.

Beautification Event at Dorchester Park, 05.21.11 11am-3pm

Good Evening All,

Just wanted to remind everyone about our Beautification Event on Saturday May 21st from 11am-3pm.

If you have not responded as to if you can make it or no, please do so.
I do not have many responses at all...only 10 people out of 70 families in the Neighborhood have responded.
If it remains at 10, I am going to possibly cancel.

Please let me know as soon as possible.

Many thanks for your time.

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Beautification Event at Dorchester Park

Please join your community at Dorchester Park on Saturday, May 21st from 11am - 3pm for a Beautification Event.

Brookhaven Town has agreed to supply dirt, mulch and garbage bags and I have just been approved for 6 flats of Marigolds from the Holtsville Ecology Center.

We would be happy if anyone can come help out. All families are welcome...spread the word! The more the better!

Please bring a rake, trimming shears, and any gardening equipment you wish and gloves. Also, please bring 2 liter bottles filled with water as there is no irrigation at Dorchester Park.

We will be raking debris, picking up garbage, cutting back brush and applying dirt & mulch around trees and planting flowers.
If anyone would like to donate any perennials or flowers of their own, that would be much appreciated.

We hope to see as many people from the community there as possible.

Many, many thanks...

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Observing and Reporting

Please, please, please...if anyone sees any illegal activity or people in the park after dark, please observe and report. It is important so that we keep any incidents from occurring and show them that we will not tolerate it. Call Brookhaven Town Code Enforcement or SCPD or 911 if emergency.

Again, if anyone sees any Heroin needles, please do not touch them....call 911 and if you can wait for police to come, please do so. Throwing the needles in the trash is not safe for town workers. Leaving them on the ground is dangerous to our children. Police will dispose of safely and report the occurrence. Please let me know as well.

Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Working on with Town at this time...

Trying to get gates at all entrances for child safety reasons.
Trying to get a sign with name of park, Dorchester Park.

Graffiti

Grafitti was done again in far back playground equipment...if anyone sees any being done, please call Brookhaven Code Enforcement or SCPD. It is a HUGE problem. The playground equipment was just cleaned off. Its a shame...I have reported to town once again.

Incident last night

Last night 4 adolescents from our area where found "hanging out" in the park after dark and ticketed by Brookhaven Code Enforcement. Parents were called to come pick them up.

SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER

Suffolk County Police Department Newsletter



SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER April 2011

April, the first full month of spring, is a time when many of us start to clean our houses and apartments as we begin the annual ritual of spring cleaning. While cleaning this year, please be sure to also empty your medicine cabinets and dispose of unwanted prescription drugs using Operation Medicine Cabinet, our innovative prescription-drug disposal program.

Operation Medicine Cabinet: Did you know prescriptions have become one of the most abused illegal drugs for teenagers in the United States, second only to marijuana? In fact, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, nearly one out of every five teens is said to have abused prescription drugs, with the majority believed to have obtained the drugs from friends and family. This is deeply concerning as statistics show illegally used prescription drugs and marijuana often serve as “gateway drugs” for teens who progress to use heroin and other deadly substances. Please help us to reduce the accessibility of prescription drugs to young people by anonymously disposing of unwanted prescription drugs in collection containers located at all Suffolk County PD precincts. For more information, please visit www.suffolkpd.org and follow the Community Outreach link to Operation Medicine Cabinet.

Spotlight on Service: Suffolk County Police Department’s Heroin Task Force: The Suffolk County Police Department’s Heroin Task Force, which supplements the efforts of precinct and headquarters based narcotics units, continues to aggressively enforce laws relating to the unlawful sale and possession of this deadly drug in Suffolk County. Formed in 2010, the task force has seen significant results. Last year, 1,080 individuals were arrested by the heroin task force and 1,289 heroin charges were lodged by the Suffolk County Police Department. For comprehensive information on heroin abuse, including a partial listing of resources available in Suffolk County, please visit our website at www.suffolkpd.org and click on the Heroin Education Leads to Prevention or Suffolk County Drug Mapping Index icons.

Cell Phone in One Hand…Ticket in Another! A week-long enforcement campaign by the SCPD, which was held in March, targeted distracted driving practices and resulted in nearly 2,900 tickets being issued, 1,100 of which were for cell phone usage alone. Remember, thousands of people are killed and injured in crashes caused by distracted driving each year—in fact more than 20% of traffic crashes involving injuries are said to result from talking or texting while driving. Please help reduce this statistic by not engaging in this dangerous practice and teach your children to not do so as well.

Aggressive Driving Task Force: In our continuing effort to reduce dangerous driving in Suffolk County, we recently launched an extensive enforcement campaign targeting aggressive drivers, supplementing our ongoing traffic enforcement efforts. As part of this initiative, task-force police officers patrolling in marked and unmarked vehicles, as well as on motorcycle, will aggressively target dangerous driving practices such as speeding, tailgating, running red lights and using hand-held cell phones. Our Selective Alcohol Fatality Team, which focuses on removing intoxicated and impaired drivers from our roadways, has also been significantly expanded, with a number of additional police officers added to the team. You can help further our efforts by always driving safely, by never drinking and driving, and by not only teaching your children safe driving techniques, but by setting a positive driving example for them. Remember, junior licenses and permits are quite restrictive and do not allow youngsters to drive except under very specific circumstances. For more information, follow the Community Outreach link to Junior License Restrictions at www.suffolkpd.org.

Help Us Keep Your Communities Safe: Public support and involvement are of more help to law enforcement than any other crime prevention method. You can help us keep our communities safe by doing the following:

Join a Neighborhood Watch Group in your community, or if none exists, consider forming one. For more information on Neighborhood Watch, please visit www.suffolkpd.org and click on the Neighborhood Watch icon, or contact our Neighborhood Watch coordinator at 852-6983.

Report suspicious or unlawful activity immediately by dialing 852-COPS or “911” in an emergency. Remain alert for things that “don’t look right in your community” and report them immediately, providing as much detail and descriptive information as possible.

Provide tips or information regarding previously committed crimes by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, by texting tips anonymously by texting “SCPD” and your message to “CRIMES,” or by emailing them in anonymously via www.tipsubmit.com. Rewards may be available and most importantly, you are helping keep your neighborhood, friends and family safe!

Visit our Crime Stoppers page on our website by clicking on the Crime Stoppers icon to view “Suffolk’s Most Wanted,” as well as photos and videos of unidentified individuals caught in the act of committing crimes. Help us identify and locate these individuals and you may receive an award. Please, only observe and report—do not attempt to apprehend any of these individuals.

Take basic safety and security precautions: When out and about, always remain aware of your surroundings. Park in well lighted areas and don’t walk through alleyways or desolate areas. Keep packages and electronics out of view and always lock your car doors, even while driving. Never leave your car running while unattended—even for a minute. Be alert to security at home as well. Install good locks on doors and windows, and use them at all times. Keep doors to sheds and garages closed and locked, and make sure the outside of your home is well lit. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed around doors and windows, and don’t allow newspapers and mail to accumulate while away. Ask a neighbor to watch your home while you are away, and leave a light or two on a timer so your home looks occupied. Following these simple steps may significantly reduce the opportunity of your becoming a crime victim!

Camp for Children with Special Needs: The Suffolk County Police Athletic League will be sponsoring a one-day camp for children with special needs. The event will be held this June (date to be announced) at the Country Fair Entertainment Park located in Medford. Admission is free and lunch will be provided. Parents will be encouraged to participate with their children. Space is limited, so please contact Officer Rich Gorgone at (631) 905-9906 or by email scspecialpal@optonline.net
To contact us regarding any information contained in this newsletter, please visit our website at www.suffolkpd.org or contact the Office of the Police Commissioner at 631-852-5704.
Dial 852-COPS for non-emergency police response. Please do not use 911!

Community Meeting at 4th Precinct REMINDER

Tonight at 7pm is the 4th Precincts Community Meeting- this is just a reminder...thank you to anyone who can attend!

Leaf Pick-Up

Leaf pick-up also started this afternoon...finally!

Power-Washing & Park Clean-Up

Graffiti on playground equipment is now being removed by power-washing crew.

Also, spoke with Parks Dept. Deputy Commissioner and he will supposedly have crews in park this week cleaning it up.

Bush on Morris Ave side of park

The bush we requested removed is now being removed per my request yesterday. Finally!

Recent concerns addressed with Brookhaven Town Parks Department

Since the fall season started, there was absolutely no leaf clean-up at all. Garbage has not been picked up, and there are many sticks and tree debris laying all over the park.

Also, the playground equipment is covered with graffiti once again; this needs to be power-washed.

There is also the matter of the replacement of the play ground tube that kids crawl through that has not been replaced since the "bombing incident" last year...the tube and the clear half bubble that was blown out has yet to be replaced. It is dangerous to say the least.

Swing chains at very top where the chain is attached is wearing very thin on some swings- seems like they may give one day soon...they are very thin and rotting. I want them checked and replaced.

The bush that was asked to be removed still has not been removed- that is where the mugging took place last year; anyone can hide behind that bush and come out at you- also dangerous. As trees and bushes start to grow over the next few weeks, I am sure a trimming around the whole track will be necessary.

We had a Pitbull chasing two young children on their bikes this past weekend- unchained. This followed by a not so nice discussion between the dog owner and the children's parents. The children had to leave because the dog owner refused to leash his pet. That is just not right. Luckily the child was not hurt this time.
Dog owners that refuse to leash their pets are not being ticketed because no one is ever at this park patrolling it. It is going to take a child being bit to have something done I guess. While I am an animal lover and don't mind dogs in the park myself- as long as dangerous ones especially are leashed when being walked and also curbed/ cleaned up after, it still poses a concern to many parents and the bottom line is the rule of the park and Brookhaven Town is NO PETS...

When will gate be put at entrances/exits? I never heard back about this...

I am well aware of budget cuts and parks department lay-offs, however, that does not mean that absolutely no preventative maintenance should be done. The park looks awful, which in turn attracts the wrong crowd. Working with Suffolk County Police Department this past year has somewhat cleared up the drug problem we had last year...we are hoping to keep it that way....

I will post Parks Departments response as soon as I hear back...

Many thanks,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Next Community Meeting @ 4th Precinct

The next Community Meeting at the 4th Precinct will be on Wed March 30th at 7pm. Hope that some can make it.

Next Civic & 4th Precinct Meetings

Next Ronkonkoma Civic Meeting is: Feb. 10, 7pm

Next 4th Precicnt Community Meeting is: Feb. 23 7pm

Suffolk Police Looking for Vandalists

Suffolk Police Looking for Vandalists
Graffiti pops up all over Ronkonkoma area.


Suffolk Police is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating those responsible for graffiti in the Ronkonkoma area.

In Nov. 2010, at least 15 individual residential and commercial buildings and vehicles were spray painted with graffiti. Several houses and businesses were tagged with the letters “ECM.”

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5000.00 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, or text SCPD and your message to CRIMES. All calls will be kept confidential.