Bellone promises accurate crime reporting

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Friday promised accurate reporting of crimes during his administration and said that as a result "it is possible that crime statistics may go up at first."

Addressing more than 300 officers at a ceremony to swear in acting Police Commissioner Edward Webber and Chief of Department James Burke, Bellone said he has told the new officials he wants the department to be "be honest with the public" and ensure "accurate and timely reporting of incidents."

"If a criminal commits a felony, I want them charged with a felony," Bellone said. "I don't want it reported as a misdemeanor because that 'looks better.' I am concerned with fighting crime, not my public image."

Asked after the ceremony if there was evidence that crime statistics had been underreported, Bellone said only, "It's anecdotal."

In response, former County Executive Steve Levy said there was no underreporting.

" 'Being honest with the public,' as if the previous executive wasn't," Levy said. "It's the height of irresponsibility for such a high-level official to cite as fact rumors."

Bellone's spokesman, Jon Schneider, said later that the new county executive "heard anecdotally from some people" about underreporting during his campaign last year. Schneider said Bellone's comments Friday were only meant to "set a tone" for his administration, not to attack the previous one.

Schneider pointed to a report last September by the U.S. Department of Justice that some hate crimes were not being properly classified.

"We are simply allowing for the possibility, that if SCPD had been underreporting in one area which was subject to DOJ investigation, it stands to reason, there may have been underreporting in other areas that were not investigated," he said.

Levy said the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, which supported Bellone in his campaign last year, attacked the credibility of crime statistics to justify hiring more police.

PBA second vice president Noel DiGerolamo said the union has long criticized the department for interpreting laws to treat crimes he considers to be felonies as misdemeanors. "Classification policy within the department has distorted the crime statistics for many years," DiGerolamo said.

During the ceremony at Farmingdale State College, Bellone praised Webber, a 39-year department veteran who had been chief of support services, and Burke, who was Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota's chief investigator. He said both would support his philosophy using statistics to help guide anti-crime strategies.

Bellone also said that police would work with other county departments to find a comprehensive way to attack prescription drug abuse, including prevention and treatment.