Crime Stoppers: East End Opting For More Security

Remember when anything past exit 50 was considered “the boonies” and Riverhead was nothing but farmland and beaches, and a mere gateway to the more glamorous and haute Hampton.

But, along with progress, outlet centers and an ever-increasing population comes all that goes along with it…and that means more crime.

That’s right, and in fact, authorities are quite concerned about the East-End crime rate. It seems that a couple of seemingly gang-related shootings in less than two months have sparked officials to launch a strictly law enforcement effort in the town’s downtown business district.

Authorities report that a similar effort back in 2005 yielded 122 arrests which included 28 gang members who were bused for a variety of crimes.

Still, officials who called the meeting regarding the effort remained clear on pointing out that while crime is probably not any higher in Riverhead than in other areas of Long Island, it may often seen magnified because of the size of the town and the community.

Among current concerns are incidents involving teens, specifically an 18-year-old who was shot in the arm while walking in the downtown district and the 16-year-old who was arrested in conjunction with the crime/assault.

Officials note that a series of initiatives, including an continued effort that involved county police, The Riverhead school district and the county sheriffs
Office is a collaborative effort brought forth by the non-profit Council for Unity, geared at tackling and addressing gang activity in the town. And, officials hope to get an answer, regarding the measure, form the district attorney and county officials within the next few weeks.