Levy touts new heroin task force for boosting arrests
The police department's newly created heroin task force has increased heroin-related arrests by 33 percent in its first three months of operation, according to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.
In a news conference in Hauppauge, Levy said the task force arrested 279 people from Jan. 6 to April 12, compared with 209 heroin-related arrests for the same first quarter of last year.
The county executive, joined by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer, said the concentrated effort is crucial because costly heroin use increases the number of burglaries and robberies, and fuels violent gang activity.
"What we've seen with heroin is really scary," Levy said, noting abusers often "go from a $100-a-week habit to one that is $100 a day."
The task force, part of the Suffolk County Police Department's narcotics section, has three detective sergeants, 21 detectives and seven police officers.
It was created under a 10-point plan introduced by Levy that includes "outreach to students; enhanced 'early impact' law enforcement efforts; comprehensive, region-specific, heroin-education forums; useful resources for parents and families dealing with substance abuse; and new support networks for recovering users that foster social strength and celebrate sobriety," according to a news release.
Jeffrey Reynolds, executive director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, praised the task force.
"For many people, their bottom is an arrest," he said. "They find recovery through an arrest. . . . But this is a huge problem, and we need to do more with education. We need to stop the demand side of the equation, and that is done through education."
Police Tuesday displayed seven shotguns confiscated in arrests as well as thousands of tiny bags of heroin that were taken before they could be sold.
Noel DiGerolamo, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association vice president, questioned Levy's arrest numbers.
"Until I see evidence what he is saying is true, his history leaves no option but to doubt his numbers," DiGerolamo said.
With Gary Dymski
