Suffolk plan aims to curb pharmacy violence

Suffolk County officials Monday are expected to roll out an initiative meant to curb violence at pharmacies in the wake of deadly robberies in Seaford and Medford.

The three-pronged Pharmacy Safety Initiative involves a workshop to be held next month to teach pharmacy personnel what security measures and structural changes can discourage criminals from targeting their businesses, said Jon Schneider, spokesman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

The workshop will be hosted by Suffolk County police and the Stamford, Conn.-based pharmaceuticals company Perdue Pharma L.P., he said. All pharmacy owners in the county will be invited, he said.

The initiative is to be announced at 11 a.m. Monday at Suffolk County Police Headquarters in Yaphank.

Bellone, acting Police Commissioner Edward Webber and Long Island Pharmacists Society president Joanne Hoffman Beechko are among those slated to attend.

The initiative additionally will raise, from $1,500 to $5,000, the Crime Stoppers reward for information on serious crimes taking place at pharmacies, an increase voted upon by the Crime Stoppers board, Schneider said Sunday.

The third aspect of the initiative is raising awareness of Operation Medicine Cabinet, the program that allows residents to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs at drop boxes at each Suffolk County police precinct, Schneider said.

"This is a valuable reminder to people of a service that's available 24/7," he said.