Suffolk completes crime crackdown in Mastic-Shirley

Suffolk police and the district attorney?s office say their just-completed six-week crime crackdown in the Mastic-Shirley area was a success. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy says Operation Impact

News 12 Staff

Jun 19, 2008, 12:33 AM

Updated 6,021 days ago

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Suffolk police and the district attorney?s office say their just-completed six-week crime crackdown in the Mastic-Shirley area was a success.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy says Operation Impact has made a noticeable difference. For six weeks in April and May, police targeted gangs and guns in Mastic, Shirley and Mastic Beach. Inspector John Meehan says police worked with the community to identify their main crime concerns, and then went after them.
According to Suffolk officials, 248 arrests were made within the six-week period, including 110 for drug possession. In May, police raided a home and found crack, other drugs and a level-3 sex offender living there.
Police also went after tax fraud and illegal housing in the area. Residents say they?re glad to see more police on the streets, but that more work needs to be done.
Suffolk police say other similar crackdowns are planned and that since the beginning of the year, crime in Mastic-Shirley is down 13 percent.