FEBRUARY 22, 2008, FARMINGVILLE, NEW YORK -- Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley directed Brookhaven Town Code Enforcement Officers to the Tri-Hamlet area as added sets of eyes to keep watch in pre-and-post school hours. Foley joined with Councilman Keith Romaine to make the announcement that this temporary neighborhood watch will begin when school resumes on Monday, February 25.

"While our Code Enforcement officers are not police, they can function as an additional deterrent to the types of incidents plaguing the William Floyd School District area," Mr. Foley said. "The officers, who patrol in marked Town Public Safety vehicles, will give County police extra sets of eyes to keep watch over students on their way to and from school."

“Public safety is a priority for my office,” Mr. Romaine said. “Our Code Enforcement officers will add to the increased presence of law enforcement by providing the police with another set of eyes in the community around the William Floyd schools. Having them perform patrol duties in their Department of Public Safety vehicles in neighborhoods near the schools also will have an added deterrent effect. I will not tolerate predators and criminals endangering our students on their way to school.”

This enhanced neighborhood watch is a temporary measure. It is being put into effect while the Town and County work together with the community on a comprehensive plan to improve the community's quality of life, including a continued crackdown on illegal houses and building code violations.

"People are upset, students are afraid, and parents are worried about their children," Mr. Foley added. "Government must do all it can to allay fears, correct the situation and make people not just feel safe, but to be safe as well."

Since 2005 Brookhaven Town quality of life code enforcement has increased exponentially in the Tri-Hamlet area; building code tickets increased from 136 in 2005 to 550 in 2007; Department of Law tickets soared from 150 in 2005 to 900 in 2007; and response time to litter complaints decreased from 27 days in 2005 to 4 days in 2007.

Town Code Enforcement officers primarily go on calls enforcing specific town codes and issuing summonses.

Supervisor Foley, in making the announcement, stated, “The assignment is simple: Protect the children; be on the scene to watch for suspicious activity; extend the eyes and ears of the County police; and be a resource the community can depend on.”

Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677