New police substation in Huntington Station OK'd

Aiming to stem violence in Huntington Station, a committee of Suffolk legislators yesterday approved opening a police substation near the Jack Abrams school.

The Ways and Means Committee voted 4-1 to direct County Executive Steve Levy's director of Real Property Acquisition and Management, Pam Greene, to place a substation in Huntington Station.

"This community is in turmoil," said the bill's sponsor, Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor). "My constituents are clamoring for this, they're begging for this."

The full Legislature is scheduled to vote on the bill during its next meeting Sept. 16.

Cooper said local businesses are willing to donate space to the county for a substation and proposed that it be staffed around-the-clock by light-duty officers.

The lone vote against the substation came from Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley), who argued that the only way to reduce crime in the neighborhood is placing more police officers on the streets.

"What we need is more cops on the streets being proactive instead of this constant reacting," she said. "I want to support more cops on the street but not a substation with a light-duty officer who could potentially wind up getting hurt."

Levy officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.