September 29, 2005

DILLON TEAMS UP WITH HEMPSTEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COMBAT CRIME

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today the results of an ongoing effort between his office and the Hempstead Police Department to combat crime in the Village of Hempstead.

As part of an Enhanced Patrol Project that began in January of 2004, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office has been funding overtime for uniformed members of the Hempstead Police Department’s Community Policing Unit to work in the early morning hours. The value of this initiative is its flexibility to assign police officers where and when they are needed most in the community.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office uses forfeiture funds to pay for this project. The DA’s Civil Forfeiture Unit ensures that those who commit crimes do not profit from their illegal activities. The proceeds and instrumentalities of criminal activities are seized and used to fund operations such as the Hempstead Enhanced Patrol Project. The intensified patrols from November 29, 2004 until September 23, 2005 have resulted in the following:

134 Custodial Arrests

113 Appearance Tickets Issued

459 VTL Summonses Issued

152 Field Interviews Conducted

30 Gang Members Arrested - Bloods, MS-13, SWP, CRIP, Outlaw, 18th Street, Latin Kings

4 Guns Seized

22 Knives Seized

More than 20 pounds of Marijuana Seized

Over 2 ½ pounds of Cocaine Seized

3 Machetes Seized

2 Baseball Bats Seized

2 Pellet Guns Seized

Gang Paraphernalia Seized

According to Dillon, "These arrests and seizures would not have happened if it were not for this program. In 2004, we used $73,259.06 in forfeiture funds to pay for the Enhanced Patrol Project and in 2005 we expect to spend in excess of $75,000. The additional policing in targeted areas and during specific times helps to disrupt criminal activity."

"This is another example of a coordinated effort between the Nassau DA’s Office and the Hempstead Police Department that is allowing us to have a positive impact on gang violence and gang activity within our community," said Hempstead Police Chief James Russo.

"The utilization of forfeiture funds for projects such as this are key in combating crime," Dillon continued. "My office has taken through forfeiture the largest amount of money under the New York State Forfeiture Law. We will continue to aggressively go after anyone committing a crime in Nassau County and the proceeds from that crime in order to put the money back into the community."

"Using forfeiture funds for projects such as this is only part of my approach to combating crime in Nassau County," said Dillon. "My approach has always been two pronged. First, I believe in swift and certain punishment to deter people from committing serious crimes. Secondly, I am continuing to take proceeds from various criminal activities and many private sources to fund programs teaching young people at risk the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude., and all the natural virtues related to those Cardinal virtues."

"Based on our success so far, we will continue to fund this Enhanced Patrol Project in 2005 and into 2006," Dillon concluded.