Suffolk Police Focusing on Crime Trends

The Suffolk County Police Department is taking a closer look at criminal trends within specific precinct areas, officials told Legis. Lou D’Amaro (D-Huntington Station) in his first meeting as a new member of the Suffolk Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

Specifically, D’Amaro questioned Acting Police Commissioner Edward Webber and newly promoted Chief of Department James Burke about the commanders’ focus on what they term “intelligence led policing” and its possible impacts on local police precincts.   

Intelligence led policing relies on a data driven deployment of resources whereby the department aggressively identifies crime trends and patterns on both a countywide and local level.  Police officials analyze the data and then provide the necessary resources to precinct commanders, who will be held accountable to reverse crime trends in the areas under their watch. 

“I want to ensure that the department’s focus on data driven deployment of resources will not result in pitting different communities throughout Suffolk County against each other in terms what areas get the most resources,” D’Amaro said in a press release.  “Chief Burke assured me this will not be the case.”

Each precinct will have a Field Officer specifically assigned to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of their precinct.  These officers will report directly to the department’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau, which will immediately deploy resources as needed.  

In addition, the department’s Community Response Bureau is being beefed up in order to handle parochial issues that are specific to certain hamlets within the County and may fall outside larger countywide crime trends, the legislator said.

“All local complaints will be entered into a central database where they will be analyzed and tracked.  Given this information, I feel very confident that local concerns will not fall through the cracks.”

The top commanders also addressed a priority issue for the Huntington area: gangs.  

Chief Burke stressed that the department is presently using intelligence led policing to help identify gang members, their associates and their organizational hierarchy.  This information will allow police the opportunity to selectively target gang members.  The utilization of traditional organized crime investigative techniques will also help the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office pursue what are called “Enterprise Corruption prosecutions,” which, if successful, will put gang members behind bars for decades.  This is a similar concept to the RICO statutes, which were used with much success in the 1980’s to bring down organized crime.  

“I am extremely encouraged by the new commanders’ commitment to vigorously pursue and prosecute gang members,” said D’Amaro.  “For several years, I have been strenuously advocating for the stepped up use of undercover operations and wiretaps, which are the most proven measures for eliminating gangs.  I always maintain that you have to cut off the head of the snake to ensure it has been killed, and the same theory goes for gangs.  With this mindset firmly in place, and the implementation of these new police strategies on the horizon, we are well on our way toward striking a decisive blow against criminals and gang members.  I wish our new police commanders all the best and look forward to working with them to make this goal a reality.”