By ANTHONY BOTTAN
According to Lynbrook-s crime statistics report for the year, violent crime in the village dropped 56 percent from 2006, while property crime fell 10 percent and the total number of criminal incidents decreased by nearly 18 percent.
Living in a safe village is the most important priority to every resident everything else is secondary, Mayor Brian Curran said. It is for that reason my administration wanted to increase the number of village police officers and provide the department with all of the tools needed to be aggressive in their law enforcement duties and make sure that Lynbrook residents can raise their families in a safe community.
Curran attributed the drop in crime to the dedication and diligence of the Lynbrook Police Department, which he asked to focus on criminal activity that affects youths, such as drugs, underage drinking and drunk driving. According to the crime statistics report, the number of robberies, larcenies and vehicle thefts has dropped, while there was an increase in underage drinking, the sale of alcohol to minors and arrests for possession of marijuana.
My officers have been extremely aggressive with traffic enforcement and pro-active with community policing efforts, said Police Chief Joseph Neve.
In a press release highlighting the police department-s efforts, Curran underscored a recent arrest by officer Christopher Skartsiaris. During a late-night patrol, Skartsiaris noticed a car parked on a residential block. He saw two men in the car, and recognizing neither the car nor the men, he approached the car to investigate. During a search of the car, he found the two men in possession of heroin, jewelry, gloves, a badge, ski masks, duct tape and a sawed-off shotgun. They were arrested and charged with possession of an illegal firearm and possession of narcotics.
Clearly, officer Skartsiaris prevented a more serious crime from occurring, Neve said.
Curran added that the village board hopes to further reduce local crime by encouraging residents to form neighborhood watches. Residents will be given handouts detailing the benefits of the watches as well as how to start them.
The 2007 crime statistics clearly show that Lynbrook is one of, it not the, safest community in Nassau County, Curran said. However, this is just the start.
Crime statistics from the Nassau County Police Department-s 4th Precinct for East Rockaway were not available as the Herald went to press.
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