Suffolk Police: Help Us Help You

The Suffolk County Police Department Third Precinct held its monthly community forum on Wednesday night to listen to concerns from community members and to also give information on community outreach programs the department is currently involved in.

Among those police officers who addressed the community was Third Precinct community liaison officer Charles Ross, who spoke about involving the community in various programs including a neighborhood watch program. "If you hear or see something going on, communicate with law enforcement about it," he said.

If you do hear or see something in your neighborhood, you can call 911. Otherwise, you can call 852-COPS for non-emergencies or if it something that is a chronic problem, you can call Third Precinct COPE office at 854-8308. 

Ross explained the current programs the police department has that community members can take part in including the neighborhood watch. You can find information at www.co.suffolk.ny.us/police/neighborhoodwatch.htm or call Bernadette Zimmermann at 852-6983 or call the COPE office (854-8308).

For youths who may have an interest in law enforcement, the police department runs an Explorers program for those between the ages of 14 and 20. According to Ross, those in the Explorers program learn a lot about the different aspects of Suffolk County law enforcement. For information, you can call the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts at 924-7000 or the COPE office or the Third Precinct at 854-8300.

The police department also has a youth police academy, a five-day program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement that allows the students to experience a police academy. 

There is also a citizen's police academy that includes 16 sessions, each three hours, for a total of 48 hours for community members to get a better idea of what policing is about. Ross said those who have gone through the program have a better idea of what the job of law enforcement entails. 

For information about those programs, you can call the COPE office or the Third Precinct. 

Inspector Jan Rios, the commanding officer of the Third Precinct, then answered questions from community members. Among the questions posed was what to do if you suspect a location in the neighborhood in which drug dealing is occurring. Although Rios said drug dealing investigations are extremely difficult, the precinct should be made aware of the suspected location.

The issue of noise disturbances also came up. For noise complaints, residents can always call 911 or the Town of Islip Department of Public Safety Enforcement at 224-5547 or 5548 or 5549 since there are noise ordinances in the town code. 

The Third Precinct will also be holding community forums in both July and August on July 6 and August 3 at 7 p.m. at the precinct, 1630 Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore.