Huntington Station Crime is ‘Extremely Low,’ Police Say

Huntington Station has gained a reputation for violence following drug raids, shootings and robberies this year, but recent statistics say crime in the area is extremely low, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini announced Monday.

The SCPD has implemented various initiatives to lower crime, including working with residents to better understand community issues over a 28-day period in Huntington Station, Sini said.

These initiatives led to:

• 276 individuals arrested in Huntington Station
• 25 individuals arrested in Greenlawn
• 1,478 tickets issued by Second Precinct personnel in the Huntington area.
• 6 search warrants, including one on Nov. 4 that led to the recovery of a .38 caliber revolver.

Compared to the same 28-day initiative in 2015, violent crime in Huntington Station was reduced by 71.4 percent, property crime was reduced by 8.3 percent and total crime was reduced by 8.6 percent.

Sini also shared overall year-to-date findings that compared crime statistics from 2015 to 2016. The findings found that from 2015 to 2016, violent crime was reduced by 12.9 percent, property crime was reduced by 11 percent and total crime was reduced by 11.3 percent.

While 2015 was a record low SCPD-wide, 2016 is set to be a banner year, he said. Reported crimes in the Huntington area from 2015 to 2016 can be found on the Huntington Patch’s Police & Fire section.

Many people believe crime in the area has gone up, but Sini says that is not true. He blamed this belief on modern resources such as the 24-hour news cycle and social media.

Crime in Suffolk County is the lowest ever in recorded history, Sini said. Suffolk County does not have crime statistics that pre-date 1975.

Other local public officials gathered alongside Sini outside the Second Precinct headquarters Monday morning, including Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone, Legis. William Spencer, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci and members of the Huntington Town Board.

“We are making a very clear line in the sand that crime will not be tolerated and gangs will not be tolerated,” Spencer said.

Officials say they will continue to work to drive crime down and increase the quality of life in Huntington Station.

Have you noticed a reduction in crime? Sound off below!

Patch photos