Authorities Announce Aggressive New Anti-Gang Campaign In Long Island
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced his plan to combat gang violence today. The first step is dismantling a gang task force located at police headquarters.
The break-up will send 39 police officers back to local stations to deal with gang activity.
1010 WINS reporter Mona Rivera was in Long Island...
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Bellone announced his plan in Huntington Station where gang violence has gotten so bad that an elementary school had to be closed over fears that students would be shot.
Residents applauded the announcement and called it a step in the right direction.
"This is our community we love it and we want it back," said Dee Thompson.
Bellone said that sending the officers back to gang affected neighborhoods would put them in a better position to combat the problem.
"To understand what they're doing, and how they're doing it, you can't do that based in headquarters," he said.
Recently five alleged members of a Long Island gang were indicted a number of charges including murder for the death of a 15-year-old boy in Brentwood.
What do you think can be done to combat gang violence in the New York area? Leave your thoughts in our comments section below.
