SCPD Sixth Precinct Community Meeting on May 14, 2013
There was a sixth precinct community meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at the Comsewogue Public Library in Port Jefferson Station. The meeting was led by our new Commanding Officer, Inspector Thomas Palmieri. With him from COPE were Sergeant Steve Demeo and Community Liaison Officer, Police Officer Kelly Monfiletto. The meeting was sparsely attended (three members of the Suffolk County Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association (SCCPAAA)—representatives from the 28th, 30th, and 31st classes—and an employee of the library during her dinner break). However, the next three meetings will be back to their original location at the precinct, where we hope to have more attendees.
Inspector Palmieri shared some of his background with the police department (he used to patrol in the sixth precinct, spent 7 years with the Highway Patrol Bureau, was deputy inspector of the first precinct for 3 years, and served 1 year as chief of patrols).
After initial introductions, Inspector Palmieri shared some crime statistics. Most statistics are lower so far this year compared to last year.
Homicides: 1 in 2013, compared to 2 in 2012
Robberies are down 45 percent in 2013 compared to 2012
Aggravated assaults are down in 2013
Burglaries are down 48 percent in 2013 compared to 2012
However, motor vehicle fatalities have increased in 2013 compared to 2012 (with 7 so far this year).
He also listed several incidents that have occurred since the last community meeting.
April 15: fatal motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 83 and Canal
April 19: robbery spree in Centereach during the afternoon rush hour (the person has been caught and arrested)
May 5: mother arrested for leaving 4 children in a car while she went in to a bar to drink
May 5: motorcyclist killed in an accident on the Long Island Expressway at Sills Road in Yaphank
There have been 481 arrests since April 1st (including 2 for robbery, 31 for DWI, 4 for burglary, 14 for grand larceny, and 71 drug related arrests).
A reminder was given about the recent telephone scam with callers indicating that a family member is in trouble and asking for money to be sent to help out. The callers have been able to extort money 1 out of 10 times. The calls seem to be coming from a pay as you go phone in Puerto Rico. The scam is considered grand larceny by extortion and is a felony. If you should receive one of these calls, contact the police (911) as soon as possible.
Sergeant Demeo indicated there has been an increase in nuisance activity in the Port Jefferson and Port Jefferson Station areas. To correspond with the warmer weather and expected influx of people, two officers will be focusing on patrolling on the weekends in Port Jefferson village. They will be on duty from 4:00 PM to 4:00 AM every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The goal is to discourage and prevent incidents when people leave the bars at closing time in the warmer weather.
Police Office Monfiletto talked about neighborhood watch. Currently, Kelly works with 5 neighborhood watches, ranging in size from small to large groups. If you want to join or start a neighborhood watch in your community within the sixth precinct, you can contact Kelly. It is not a huge responsibility, just a commitment to observe and report. You can reach Police Officer Monfiletto as follows.
Phone: 631-854-8670 (COPE office answering machine)
Fax: 631-854-8649
E-mail: Kelly.Monfiletto@suffolkcountyny.gov
An audience member asked about gangs in the 6th precinct. The two most prevalent gangs in the precinct are the Bloods and Trinitarios.
Sergeant Demeo spoke briefly about the Community Oriented Police Enforcement (COPE) units. There are two teams (4 to 5 officers per shift, day and night) that usually work Tuesday through Saturday. Officers also cover Sunday and Monday shifts. COPE officers generally address nuisance complaints (people where they shouldn’t be, and so on). They also work at parades, 5K runs, and funerals.
A review of appropriate phone numbers to call was also discussed.
911 for emergencies only
852-COPS (2677) for non-emergency calls
854-8670 for the COPE office answering machine (messages are checked when COPE officers are in the office; allow 3 to 4 days for a response as officers are not always in the office)
Inspector Palmieri is going to try to schedule future meetings on alternate days of the week to allow members of the SCPAAA to attend without conflict to the SCCPAAA meetings. The next 3 community meetings for the sixth precinct are as follows.
Wednesday, June 19th at the sixth precinct at 7:00 PM
Wednesday, July 17th at the sixth precinct at 7:00 PM
Wednesday, August 21st at the sixth precinct at 7:00 PM
Check the Suffolk County Police Department web site for a list of upcoming community meeting dates. Announcements of future meetings are made through Nixle (www.nixle.com).
