Tuesday, March 4, 2025 11AM
West Islip Public Library / 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip

Next meeting: Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 7pm, Brentwood Public Library, 343 2nd Ave, Brentwood

The meeting was lightly attended (approximately 24 people) primarily due to the morning; however, there were mostly new faces, and that is the Precinct’s reason for the early time.

• Police Officer John Wright opened the meeting, welcomed all and explained the format.  He then turned it over to Vincent Maronski.  Vincent announced that he is no longer the 3rd Precinct Inspector.  He has been promoted to Deputy Chief located in Yaphank.
• New Leadership was mentioned again:
  • Commissioner Kevin Catalina
  • Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Groneman
  • Chief Robert Waring
• He then introduced David Regina as the new Inspector of the 3rd Precinct.  The new Inspector then gave a brief Bio of his 31 years with the SCPD. Inspector Regina previously served as Inspector for the 4th precinct.
• Next, Mike Kelly, the new Deputy Inspector of the 3rd Precinct, was introduced. He also briefly introduced himself and his 24 years with the force.
• The Precinct Level Advisory Board (PLAB) is and will be a positive force in helping the precinct shape its future. It was mentioned that it is a two-year commitment, and new volunteers will be needed for this role.
• 3rd Precinct Crime Stats Presented
  • Overall, numbers for crime are down.
  • Specific local issues are being addressed via this meeting and COPE efforts.
• Upcoming Events:
  • 3/8 Bayshore / Brightwaters St. Patrick’s Parade 2pm
  • 3/22 Brentwood St. Patrick’s Parade 1pm
• Operation Medicine Cabinet – 24/7 at the Precinct for your personal unused/outdated prescription medications.
• Suffolk County Police Department WILL NOT ask for your immigration status during any call for service
• The Contact Numbers and Media Sites were provided as usual
  • A request was made to provide a printed card with the contact information for those who may need them
• Questions and answers followed, and several topics were brought up:
  • Breakout discussion for individuals with issues they wanted to discuss
• The entire audience thanked Deputy Chief Maronski for his service to the Community, and all welcomed Inspector Regina and Deputy Inspector Kelly.
• Meeting Adjourned at 11:40am

March 6, 2025:
Inspector Brendan Forte presented 1st Precinct incident statistics for February 2025

• 340 arrests;
• 0 commercial burglaries;
• 1 residential burglary;
• 4 robberies with three arrests;
• 422 vehicle crashes with 40 drivers leaving the scene and one death;
• 6 motor vehicle thefts, 5 left with the engine running; and
• 3 gun fire incidents into the air.

Inspector Forte also shared 2024 year-end key statistics:

• Over 82,000 calls for service;
• 1,700 felonies, 926 arrests;
• 5,200 misdemeanors, 2,800 arrests;
• 31,000 summons issued; and
• 3,102 domestic violence incidents investigated.

The Inspector said that the precinct has been investigating massage parlor prostitution, liquor store sales to minors, and one family home with the interior divided into several illegal rental units.  These programs are in partnership with the Town of Babylon for statute enforcement.

The next community meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the West Babylon Public Library. All residents are welcome.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 7pm at the Brentwood Library:

Next meeting is Tuesday, March 4, 2025 11:00AM at the West Islip Library, 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip

Meeting was well attended (approximately 45 people)

– Inspector Maronski led the meeting with input as necessary from his Staff and other Officers

– New Leadership  have been identified:

• Commissioner Kevin Catalina
• DPC Belinda Groneman
• Chief Robert Waring

– Precinct Level Advisory Board (PLAB) is and will be a positive force in helping the precinct shape the future

– Lock It or Lose It – Police continue to stress the importance NOT to leave possessions unlocked / unattended and running in the case of vehicles

– Overall numbers for crime are down

• Specific local issues are being addressed via this meeting and COPE efforts.
• A comparison of 3rd Precinct Crime Stats ’24 and ’23 shows an overall decrease in crime.

– Coffee with a Cop – Tuesday, February 25 from 10am to 12noon – My Town’s Cafe, East Islip

There is still a need for School Crossing Guards. This ongoing issue keeps Patrol Officers tied up with this duty during the day in lieu of normal Police Patrol duties.

– Positions open for people who wish to be Evidence Recovery Tow Operators

– Operation Medicine Cabinet – 24/7 at the Precinct for your personal unused / outdated prescription medications

– Suffolk County Police Department WILL NOT ask immigration status during any call for service

– The Contact Numbers and Media Sites were provided as usual

– Upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parades:

• Sunday, March 2 – East Islip
• Saturday, March 8 – BayShore
• Saturday, March 22 – Brentwood      

– Questions and answers were next, and several topics were brought up:

• Mini bikes on the neighborhood streets
• Breakout discussion for individuals with issues they wanted to report

Feb 4th, 2025:

4^th precinct Inspector Regina ran the February meeting along with Deputy Inspector Ervolina.

The Inspector ran a PowerPoint presentation that showed crime statistics in the precinct as well as the county. He explained the trends for various crimes in the precinct.

The SITE team (which consists of highway patrol officers) assisted the precinct enforce traffic violations in certain areas of the precinct again in January. 147 summonses were issued. Of those 129 were moving violations and 18 were non-moving violations. The targeted areas of enforcement were the areas in the precinct that had the largest number of motor vehicle accidents.

On 01-01-25 Police attempted to arrest an individual in the parking lot of the BP gas station on express drive south in Holbrook. As the arrest was being attempted the suspect put his vehicle in reverse at a high rate of speed and narrowly missed two officers, striking a police car. He then fled the scene driving recklessly. Following an investigation by the 4^th Precinct Crime Section, SOT Detectives and 6^th Squad Detectives the suspect was located in Ronkonkoma on 01-09-2025 and was placed under arrest. His car was impounded as evidence.

In response to numerous community complaints regarding prostitution, 3 Spas in Smithtown were raided in January. A total of 5 individuals were arrested as a result of the raids. The locations were deemed unsafe for occupancy by the Smithtown Fire Marshal and multiple violations were issued.

Two people were arrested in January for selling nicotine products to an underage person during compliance checks at a business in the 4^th Precinct.

On 01-25-25 4^th Precinct units responded to Portion Road in Ronkonkoma for a report of an MVC. Officers located a single vehicle crash into a utility pole. The lone occupant was transported to Stony Brook Hospital and was pronounced dead. The 4^th Squad is handling the investigation.

On 02-01-25 4^th precinct units responded to Rte 347 and Hallock Road for a report of a MVC. A twenty four year old female pedestrian was deceased at the scene. She was struck by an eastbound vehicle that failed to stop and continued eastbound. Major Case Unit detectives are handling the investigation. Detectives believe the involved vehicle to be a 2006 to 2007 dark grey Honda Accord.

Officer Brendan Gallagher was released on 01-27-2025 from Stony Brook Hospital. Officer Gallagher sustained life threatening injuries as a result of a crash on the LIE.

On 01-30-2025 a jogger called 911 to report that he was lost in Blydenburgh Park and was stuck in chest high mud. The jogger was attempting to retrieve his dog who had wandered onto the mud. 4^th precinct officers, Emergency Services and Aviation responded. Officers successfully pulled the man to shore and he was treated at the scene.

The next community meeting will be held on March 4th at the Smithtown Library Nesconset Building. The meeting begins at 7PM.