Crime & Safety
Cops Lay Out Long-Term Plan to Clean up Upper Port Area
Sixth Precinct initiates SAFEPORTs, analyzing surveys from the public and partnerships with local stakeholders.
In an interview in March – shortly after he stepped into his new role as commanding officer of the Sixth Precinct – Insp. Thomas Palmieri noted that the Upper Port/Port Jefferson Station area was one area he particularly wanted to focus on, and work toward cleaning up.
Tuesday night, he and other officers laid out a plan they hope will take a long-term approach in doing just that, focusing specifically on the commercial corridor of Route 112, from Route 347 to North Country Road.
Dubbed 'SAFEPORTs,' the police department is reaching out to the community and asking for its feedback via survey and analyzing data, while simultaneously coordinating with stakeholders in the area to develop a long-term strategy in cleaning up the streets and improving the quality of life.
Sgt. Andy Gliganic introduced the concept to members of the Port Jefferson-Terryville Civic Association on Tuesday night. While Palmieri has told his officers since he arrived to be proactive in their arrests in the area, keeping an intense amount of pressure on one particular area is only sustainable for so long, he said.
"We've seen these things happen before," Gliganic said. "As important as it is to get going, the inspector realized it's only a stopgap measure, and we have to do something a little more comprehensive to address the causation of these problems and also devise tactics and strategies and develop partnerships with other agencies in a manner that are maybe a little smarter and more directed. But most importantly, sustainable over the long term."
The community-oriented policing program will be comprised mainly of four separate steps, Gliganic said.
- Examining the problem, scanning for defining elements of it;
- Looking into the issues a little deeper;
- Gathering information:
- -------Objective information from databases: crime statistics, calls for service, real estate data, census numbers, etc. "Anything that is black and white."
- -------Subjective information from residents directly affected. Police wrote up a survey (see below) for locals to take and mail into the Sixth Precinct;
- Taking information, subjecting it to analysis and coming up with strategies to combat issues or stop them before they start.
Both public and private entities have been contacted as the program remains in its infancy: Gliganis said a meeting is forthcoming with leaders in Port Jefferson Village and Brookhaven Town, and real estate owners, a private security company that has clients in the area, as well as Hope House Ministry have all expressed support.
Some business owners on hand expressed frustration with the current state of affairs in the area (story to come on Thursday), however Gliganic asked them – and the public – to see how the new approach works as a solution is sought.
"I ask you to have patience," he said. "These things are going to happen. We're trying to reduce the number of times it's going to happen, a long-term way that's going to last."
Click here to download a copy of the SAFEPORTs survey. Sorry, we uploaded the cover page twice. Surveys can be mailed to the Sixth Precinct.
What do you think of the SAFEPORTs plan?
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
