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!