[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 26394]]

      ON THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S 3RD PRECINCT GANG 
                           INTERDICTION TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 17, 2001

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Gang 
interdiction Team in the Suffolk County Police Department's Third 
Precinct. This team has been incredibly successful and is making a real 
difference in the lives of the people of New York's Second District.
  The Gang Interdiction Team was founded following a homicide that also 
involved the wounding of an innocent young child. From October 29 to 
December 15, 2001, the team worked rotating shifts throughout the 
precinct from 8 in the morning until midnight.
  The Gang Interdiction Team made 154 arrests and had 290 significant 
contacts in that short time. The level of gang activity decreased 
significantly in the almost two months the team was in operation.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout the 1990's police departments across New York 
State once again learned how effective strong police deployments can be 
in reducing crime. In dealing with gangs, this is even more important, 
for if we can keep gang activity down, we may be able to keep young 
people out of the sort of major trouble that gang-life ultimately 
brings.
  I would like to note in particular that I will be working closely 
with Tom Spota, Suffolk County's new District Attorney and the Suffolk 
County Police Department in efforts to continue this program to keep 
the 2nd Congressional District safe for our families.

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