Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini Heads To North Fork, Talks Opioids, MS-13, Traffic Fatalities

SOUTHOLD, NY — Suffolk County Police Commissioner Sini spoke in Southold Wednesday night, giving an informational presentation at a meeting hosted by the Rotary Club of Southold.

The event, which took place at the American Legion Griswold Terry Glover Post 803, brought together not only Rotary members but elected officials including Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, Southold Town Councilwoman Jill Doherty, and a representative for Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski. Also onhand were Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, Anne Smith, superintendent of the Mattituck Cutchogue Union Free School District, and other community leaders.

The diverse group who gathered to hear his message, said Sini, is key — bringing together a community of stakeholders to fight back against the biggest issues facing Suffolk County is the first step toward tackling those hurdles.

SCPD, he said, has 2,500 police officers whose "solemn responsibility it is, to make our community as safe as possible."

To that end, he said, those police officers work tirelessly. "Our number one objective is to prevent crime," he said. "We've been very successful overall, despite public safety challenges."

During 2015 and 2016, Suffolk County saw an overall decrease in violent crime of nearly 12 percent, Sini said.

Factors leading to that success, he said, include engaging with community stakeholders. "My administration is very big on collaboration," he said.

Also key, Sini said, is employing "vigorous police models," as well as using data, crime statistics and criminal intelligence to allocate resources effectively.

It's very important, Sini said, that law enforcement entities in the region work together to address the top issues faced across the board.

Top issues to tackle

Sini outlined the number one challenges facing law enforcement in Suffolk County. Top on the list, he said, is the opioid epidemic, followed by MS-13 activity, traffic fatalities, and finally, Homeland Security and threats of terrorism.

Although violent crime is down overall, the county has seen "an uptick" in MS-13 activity, he said.

Discussing the opioid epidemic raging across the county, Sini said in 2015 and 2016 there were 300 fatal opioid overdoses; in 2016, Narcan was administered more than 700 times in Suffolk County, he said.

"This is an epidemic of historic proportions," Sini said.

Suffolk County, he said, has been "hit really hard. It's a public health issue and a significant public safety issue."

From a law enforcement perspective, the SCPD launched an enhanced strategy in 2016 to engage federal law enforcement partners including the Drug Enforcement Agency, to combat heroin from the source where it stems.

"Heroin, and almost all drugs, are not made in Suffolk County. They're imported from other places and countries," Sini said, adding that it's critical to team up with federal partners who have the tools and resources to stem the tide.

Assets have been pushed down to local precincts, Sini said, with increases in the narcotics division that works across the county in collaboration with local police departments.

A new hotline, 631-852-NARC, has been created so that residents can call in anonymously and report drug activity and drug dealing, he said.

In addition, many narcotics search warrants have been issued, Sini said; there's been an increase of 115 percent in search warrants, and the aim is to keep the pressure on, he said.

"We're talking about extremely lethal drugs, very potent heroin, synthetic opioids, and fentanyl — one use can kill. Taking down those drugs on the street is very important."

There's been an upswing in the number of illegal firearms recovered, Sini said.

"This sends a clear message to criminals — we're not going to tolerate this activity in our community," Sini said.

Data is used to inform and target drug dealers and areas where drug use is rampant, he said.

In addition, for the first time in New York State history, a dealer was charged with manslaughter for providing the drugs that led to an overdose, Sini said. He also pointed to the takedown of a heroin ring along Route 110, one of the biggest drug busts in Long Island history.

That case, he said, was an example of an "unprecedented partnership with Nassau County. Addiction does not recognize borders and jurisdictions," he said.

One initiative involves focusing on non-fatal drug overdoses to target drug dealers; information from pilot programs and intelligence is shared with local precincts, Sini said.

"Collaboration is key because drug dealers move, and it's important to be connected throughout the county and the region. Shared intelligence is critical," he said.

Local police departments, school districts, and community groups are all important partners in prevention efforts, teaching kids before they become ensnared about the dangers of addiction. Narcan trainings are also life-savers, he said. Suffolk County has also partnered with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence on prevention and treatment, he said.

One program aims to educate family members who appear in the emergency room, sharing information and empowering families to help their loved ones, Sini said.

"This is an epidemic and I know at times, it can feel overwhelming, when you look at the numbers and think, 'How do we get out of this?' But we have to do everything we can," Sini said.

Intervention before kids ever get addicted to opioids begins with zero tolerance for recreational marijuana and alcohol, he said. The Suffolk County Social Host Law is important because it cracks down on adults who facilitate the ability of minors to drink.

With the prime age of overdose victim people in their late 20s to early 30s, "We need to stop them before they get to that point," Sini said, adding that his wish was that every school district had a prevention program for grades K to 12.

He lauded Rotary and other community groups for their efforts in the fight and said those applying for grant monies can ask SCPD for data to help further their efforts.

MS-13 crime on the rise

Despite a reduction in crime countywide, MS-13 crimes have been rising, Sini said. The bulk of the atrocities, he said, are limited to a handful of communities including Brentwood and Central Islip.

There's a total of 400 identified gang members in Suffolk County, he said.

Sini set out to shatter some myths: MS-13, he said, contrary to common belief, did not originate in El Salvador, but instead, in the United States. During the civil war in El Salvador, many fled and settled in California, where the gang was born in the California prison system, he said.

Those individuals brought the gang back to their countries, where the tentacles of MS-13 spread to Guatemala and Honduras, as well as remaining in Los Angeles and eventually spreading to Long Island. MS-13 on the West Coast is "a very sophisticated," narcotics trafficking and extortion operation, he said. "On the East Coast, they're still trying to establish themselves and get a hold. They're less sophisticated. Don't take solace in that, though, because sometimes that translates into more violent," he said.

Gangs try to increase notoriety by instilling fear; the typical gang member is a young male between 16 and 29 with a median age of 18, Sini said.

Crimes include extortion, robbery, and burglary, and because they are not sophisticated, often "engage in violence for the sake of violence," with the number one gang crime being assault.

Suffolk County has been thrust into the international spotlight as a series of horrific gang slaying has shocked the nation and the world, including the gruesome discovery of four bodies in Central Islip on Long Island — the four young men are believed to have been victims of the deadly MS-13 street gang.

After the murders last year of Brentwood High School students Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas last year, SCPD "launched an all out offensive on MS-13. We have a lot of work to do," Sini said.

Sharing intelligence between local police departments and SCPD is important, he said.

Strategies include targeted enforcement and working with the Department of Homeland Security on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, prosecutions, which focus on organized crime, he said.

Work needs to be done to stamp out recruitment efforts; gang prevention programs in schools and the community are essential, Sini said.

"If we don't provide that support system for kids, MS-13 will," Sini said, adding that gangs target the most vulnerable, including unaccompanied minors, or children who do not speak English and have no resources or family ties.

To that end, a notification system about placement of unaccompanied minors to school districts, police departments, and communities needs to be created, he said.

Additional federal resources are badly needed, Sini said.

The commissioner also discussed traffic safety and said driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, distracted driving, and a crumbling infrastructure all lead to road fatalities.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

After the meeting, lawmakers commended Sini's presentation.

"The Commissioner discussed issues that are at the forefront of community concern. Those concerns: a growing gang presence, traffic fatalities, and drug addiction have an impact on all communities. Southold is no different. The Southold Rotary Club should be commended for providing a forum so that we can all hear more, understand more. Understanding the issues is the first step in taking action to do something about them," Russell said.

And, added Doherty, "It was very informative for the general public. Part of the fight against drugs and gangs is community involvement. There are many ways; it starts with education."

As the threat of deadly street gangs continues to escalate across Long Island and the nation, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini is set to testified last week at a hearing on Capitol Hill on MS-13.

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the presence and activity of gangs and transnational criminal organizations in American communities and the nexus to border security, a release from Sini's office said.

Sini was asked to provide insight on the impact of MS-13 activity in Suffolk County, describe the police department’s initiatives in eradicating gangs and make recommendations to the federal government on how it can help in the ongoing battle.