Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park
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Friday, February 9, 2018
Vol. 67, No. 6
N E W H Y D E PA R K
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SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
ERROR ON SEWER TAX CHARGES
CURRAN SLAMS NYC WATER PLAN
PAGES 35-46
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County major crime down more than 3%
BLUE RIBBON ROBOT
Use of technology cited; officials look to decrease opioid deaths BY R E B ECC A K L A R The number of major crimes reported in Nassau County fell 3.47 percent last year, with the largest decline in sexual abuse at 53.57 percent, according to the Police Department. A total of 5,559 major crimes were reported, compared with 5,753 in 2016. A total of 25,910 crimes were reported, a 0.85 percent decrease. The decrease in crime is a combination of a well-trained police staff with an increase in innovative practices, Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) said. “The use of technology, I think that’s helping tremendously,” Nicolello said. “They should continue to use those methods going forward.” Technology like license plate readers to help discern patterns in burglaries or figure out who is driving into an area, or computer modeling to see where crime is expected, is helping to keep crime
rates down, Nicolello said. The most frequently reported crime was grand larceny, which went up a little more than 4 percent to 3,343 cases. Significant decreases in crime included a 31.25 percent drop in residence burglary, a 25 percent drop in murder and a 20 percent drop in rape. Criminal sexual acts went up to six from five the previous year. Nicolello said that the police’s focus on community crimes also helps keep major crime rate down. In a separate report, Detective Lt. Richard Lebrun said there were 766 heroin arrests in 2017 and 639 opiate arrests. There were also 131 opioid deaths reported in 2017 as of Sept. 9, and 195 deaths reported in 2016, according to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. This year, there have already been six fatalities due to heroin or opioid overdoses, and 46 nonfatal overdoses, Ryder told Newsday. The opioid epidemic has been a Continued on Page 68
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
Christopher Lo, a Herricks High School junior, presents the Herricks Highlandbots robot during last Thursday’s board of education meeting. The team qualified for the U.S. CREATE Open National VEX Robotics Competition and Sourthern New York State VEX High School Championships. See story on page 12.
Taxes trip Troiana, raise town issue BY LU K E TORRANCE
$81,533 in federal income tax liens, according to Newsday. Troiano also served as the In 2014, the Town of North senior policy adviser to SuperHempstead hired Robert Troia- visor Judi Bosworth before beno as director of operations. ing selected by County ExecuAt the time, he had racked up tive Laura Curran to become
the acting commissioner for traffic and parking violations. He promptly resigned last week when his income tax liens, in addition to a $749,264 lien on a house he owned facing foreContinued on Page 4
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