Amid crime concerns, Huntington opens outreach center

The Town of Huntington opened a community outreach center in Huntington Station today in an effort by town and county officials to have a place within the community where residents can lodge complaints and report code violations.

Plans for the center were announced Aug. 6 as part of a multi-point plan by county and town officials in response to weeks of complaints about continuing violence and quality-of-life issues in the area.

Suffolk County police will station one police officer at the center, located at 5 Lowndes Ave., for one shift per day. Four town code enforcement officers will also be based at the center, which will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The town also announced that a 24-hour hotline, 631-423-7867, is also up and running.

People are encouraged to call the hotline with information that might be useful in criminal or code enforcement investigations.

“The face-to-face coordination is so vital,” Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said. “All the technology is fantastic; but people are much more satisfied when they can press the flesh.”