Suffolk County police are rejoining the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force following three Central Islip murders in two days last week, effectively reversing a decision to quit the collaboration last fall.
Chief of Department James Burke announced the policy backtrack Monday at the Third Precinct in Bay Shore while outlining that and other steps police have been taking to address the slayings—two of which detectives have said they suspect involve gangs.
When the Press first reported that Suffolk police quit the task force last year, Burke said the three detectives dedicated to the unit were reassigned because of staff and budget shortages. He said the brass is still deciding which two detectives will be assigned now.
Lenny Tucker, president of the Brentwood Association of Concerned Citizens, was also relieved to learn from the Press that Suffolk police rejoined the FBI gang task force.
He added that he was glad to see that the police stepped up their game before community outrage began to boil over like it did during a spike in gang murders in the area in 2009 and 2010.
FBI spokesman James Margolin said the agency welcomed Suffolk police back into the task force with open arms.
Chief Burke said he hopes rejoining the task force, beefing up patrols and adding school resource officers in the community will help temper residents’ concerns.