Cops eyeing hate crime at Bay Shore gay youth center

Suffolk police are investigating a vandalism incident at the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth Center in Bay Shore as a hate crime.

Employees of the center, at 34 Park Ave., came to work yesterday morning to find the center's front door shattered. The windows of their 2003 Ford van were also smashed to pieces, the tires slashed, and the mirrors mangled.

There was no anti-gay graffiti left at the scene but David Kilmnick, center chief executive, contacted the Suffolk County police bias crime unit because he believes the vandalism was sending a strong anti-gay message.

"If they wanted to steal something in the center, they could have walked right in," he said. "If they wanted to steal the van, they could have instead of destroying it. It's about sending a message. They're sending a message to be scared, back down, get out."

Police have classified the incident as criminal mischief as a hate crime.

"This type of attack against the gay community will not be tolerated in Suffolk County," said County Executive Steve Levy in a news release. "Our police department will seek to apprehend any wrongdoer and help ensure that there is swift justice to deter any such activity in the future."

Kilmnick said the center expects the door to be fixed by today.

A group for gay seniors canceled its meeting and some seniors expressed fear, said Kerrie O'Neill, coordinator of the program. Similarly, two volunteers who showed up to work at the center left abruptly after seeing the vandalism.

The van picks up students for group meetings. Kilmnick said he hopes to have the van back in operation on Friday.

The incident shook up staff at the center. Nick Tryling, the center's safe schools coordinator, said she came to work and the "glass was everywhere."

"Obviously we don't want to keep the kids in the dark, but we also don't want to scare them," she said.

Kilmnick and the center plans on installing surveillance cameras to prevent future such incidents and has raised $1,500.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Hate Crimes Unit at 631-852-6323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.