Crime Watch

Increased patrols through Easter, police say

No known threats to Long Island

Posted

Nassau County police are increasing patrols up through Easter weekend as an added precaution in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium early Tuesday morning.

“First let me begin by expressing our deepest sympathies for the victims of yesterday’s deadly and cowardly terrorist attack,” County Executive Edward Mangano said at a press conference on Wednesday. “While there’s no specific threat here in Nassau County, acts of terrorism abroad and here in the homeland — as recently as San Bernardino — remind us to be ever-vigilant.”

Local police are working in conjunction with New York State and Federal law enforcement agencies to monitor any potential threats during Easter weekend — a period of increased travel for many.

Mangano urged residents to take advantage of the county’s crime prevention app, and not to hesitate in reporting suspicious posts online. “Social media users are urged to report suspicious activity such as radical allegiance claims and threats by downloading for free the Nassau Crime Stoppers App,” Mangano said. The service allows users to transmit screenshots directly to investigators.

Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said that police have significantly increased aviation patrols and deployed biological and chemical detection equipment, but stressed that there are no credible threats to the area.

Krumpter said the fact that the Brussels attack was reported as a radical Islamist attack does not mean police will solely patrol area mosques, and that police would increase patrols in all religious institutions and potential targets through the holiday weekend and beyond as deemed necessary.

“Our residents are responsible and recognize that the Muslim community isn’t responsible for this, it’s a small group of people that become radicalized,” he said.

Residents will observe heavily armed police officers and tactical units throughout communities in Nassau County, though plain clothes teams and unmarked investigative teams will also be deployed, Krumpter said.

Residents are advised to download the free Nassau Crime Stoppers App and call 911 immediately if they see any suspicious activity.