Armed guards will be patrolling parks and facilities in the Town of Huntington due to the violence in the community, according to town officials.
Manor Field Park in Huntington Station is one of the locations where the guards will be present. Town of Huntington officials say the goal is to deter crime and help people feel safer.
Communitywide concerns about street violence prompted the town to begin vehicle patrols with armed rangers. On Monday, the town announced that six town rangers will patrol town facilities, buildings and parks, with a focus on the latter.
The town says the rangers are all certified as peace officers by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The armed patrols are set to begin by Labor Day. Officials say they are considering hiring more rangers in the coming months.