Mineola, New York – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today joined with the Nassau County Police Department to present the results of the2018 First Quarter Crime Report. The presentation reviewed the incredible success of several new police initiatives.
“Since my nomination and subsequent confirmation of Commissioner Patrick Ryder, his leadership of the Nassau County Police Department has implemented important crime fighting initiatives,” Nassau County Executive Curran said. “I am proud to say they are working.”
Nassau County is now one of the largest suburban counties in the United States with the lowest crime rate. Last year, there were only 15 reported homicides, making 2017 the lowest in homicides since the 1960s.
Nassau County Executive Curran also reaffirmed her commitment to fighting the dangerous gang culture, fears of mass shootings in our schools and the war on opioids. The First Quarter report shows that since January 2018, there has been a 30 percent reduction in fatal opioid overdoses.
Today, County Executive Curran and Commissioner Ryder joined named the Police Department’s successful OD mapping program, “Operation Natalie”, in memory of Natalie Ciappa of Massapequa, who was lost to an overdose 10 years ago.
“I finally feel hopeful. I can’t believe the difference a couple of months have made,” said Victor Ciappa, Natalie’s father. “It’s been a long time coming.
“Natalie, she deserves it—every kid deserves it,” he added. “Let’s turn this around because its got to get done and too many kids are dying. and I think this regime is the right one finally and I’m glad to say I feel great.”
“From today forward, we will call this bold, multi-faceted response, ‘Operation Natalie’,” Nassau County Executive Curran said. “We do not want he name to be forgotten.”
The positive statistics are also due in part to the recent introduction of real-time reporting used to identify clusters of major felonies associated with drug addicts, such as breaking into cars to scrounge for money or items to sell. The system then overlays that information with clusters of overdoses.
“Operation Natalie combined with this data-driven approach is already producing results,” Nassau County Executive Curran said. “Drug overdoses are finally decreasing in Nassau.”
Similarly, overall crime is down 30 percent in Nassau County--thanks in part to the recent introduction of the Nassau County Police Department’s “Mug Shot Mondays”. The two-month-old program circulates images of Nassau’s most wanted across social media platforms. Since its inception, 12 wanted subjects have been apprehended, another five are open to investigations and there are six recalled warrants throughout Nassau County.
In addition, Nassau County has received 5 tips that have led to arrests in the short time since the County Executive swore in her new team of Commissioner’s Community Councils or CCC’s. The 160 new members are all community stakeholders chosen to serve as liaisons between the communities and the police department.
These results compile with Nassau County’s latest School Resource Program aimed at reducing emergency response times and its robust stance against gangs and MS-13.
Just this past week, the Nassau County Police Department, while responding to immediate gang treats, made 46 arrests including Walter Rodriquez Valencia, who is wanted for two counts of attempted murder in Maryland.
“The first quarter in Nassau County Police Department has been extremely productive in keeping our residents, communities and Police Officers safe,” said Commissioner of Police Patrick Ryder. “With 177 patrol vehicles on patrol on a daily basis, the police officers operating those vehicle are making visits to schools daily, thus keeping our lines of communication open and keeping student’s safe. Regarding our overdose mapping initiative and community meetings, AKA “Operation Natalie”, we have tremendous community involvement in our continued effort to rid our neighborhoods of illegal opioids. Our residents have also been very effective in sending in tips to our NCPD social media regarding our Mug Shot Mondays. To date this year, we have located and closed out warrants on 18 subjects and have taken them off the streets. Together with our Community Council Members we are making a difference in effective timely exchanges of information. Gun violence and the crimes associated with them have also decreased over the past five years and total major crime continues to drop, thus making Nassau County one of the Safest suburban areas in the United States”
“While we remain cognizant that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us fighting crime in Nassau, this latest quarterly report is a true indicator that we are on the right track,’ said Nassau County Executive Curran.
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