Keeping an Eye on Our Community and Our Kids

By Suffolk County Legislator Sarah S. Anker

On August 13, I joined over 65 Rocky Point residents at the local VFW to discuss their concerns of neighborhood crime and how to create a Neighborhood Watch. Prior to the community meeting, my office received over 75 calls in a 3- day period requesting information on organizing a Neighborhood Watch. The calls followed a prior weekend where 8 burglaries took place within a 2-day period. This rash of crime alerted one resident in particular, Roland Jackson, who went door to door, asking if his neighbors were interested in starting the Watch. They were, and at the August 13 meeting, 23 residents signed up to be Neighborhood Watch Leaders.

This is one example of how residents can protect their communities from crime. With over 1.5 million residents in Suffolk County, our Public Safety officers have limited resources. It’s our job to provide all available resources to assist in preventing crime, including organizing and creating a Neighborhood Watch. In 2012, I helped to initiate the Mount Sinai Neighborhood Watch which continues to actively monitor the community. The county continues to monitor and assist with safety concerns however, your participation as a resident is vital in creating a tighter weave of safety in your community. You are our best resource and if you see something that concerns you, call your local police or your local official.

Benefits of a Neighborhood Watch include: meeting with our police to better understand what to look for and be aware of in your community regarding crime; installing Neighborhood Watch signs; and cultivating a closer relationship with your neighbors through social media and community meetings.

The Rocky Point burglaries stemmed from one individual who was drug addicted. All too often I’ve heard of many young teens and adults experimenting with opiates and heroin, resulting in a lifetime of addiction. It may only take two to three heroin experiences to cause this disease that will affect not only the person the rest of their life, but everyone involved in that person’s life. Suffolk County is in the midst of a heroin epidemic. We need your help in looking out for not only our community, but for our children.

If you are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch call your local police precinct. A listing of local precincts can be found at: http://apps.suffolkcountyny.gov/police.

Sarah Anker

Suffolk County Legislator