The Freeport Village and City of Long Beach Police Departments received $60,000 in grants from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. The money will be used to step up DWI patrols on roadways in those areas from Memorial Day until Labor Day — also known as “The 100 Deadliest Days.” The announcement was made on May 27.
The grants, fully funded by criminal asset forfeiture provided by the Nassau DA’s Office, will be used to provide hundreds of hours of dedicated patrols to combat drunk and drugged driving beginning during the three-month period, which is widely considered one of the deadliest on Nassau County roadways.
“This past weekend, Americans began flocking to airports and hitting the roads for the unofficial start of summer,” Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly said. “Long Island remains a summer haven for New Yorkers looking to escape the city for a weekend and a great staycation spot for residents looking to take advantage of sun, surf, and waterfront dining and nightlife. But more cars on the road can spell more risk, especially when combined with alcohol or drug activity.”
The stepped-up enforcement will be staffed by officers who are trained in field sobriety tests, breath analysis, and drug recognition. Patrols will focus on strategic times of high traffic, including weekends and holidays, and locations where DWI offenses are most likely to take place, like bars, waterfront areas, and outdoor restaurants.
With the assistance of the NCDA grant funds, the Freeport Police Department provided increased patrols during the 100 deadliest days of summer last year. From Memorial Day to Labor Day 2024, the Freeport Police made 60 arrests for DWI crimes, six of which became felonies due to defendants’ prior misdemeanor convictions. One defendant arrested for DWI offenses was arrested in front of Freeport Police headquarters.
Between 2014 and May 2025, the Long Beach Police Department made 1,078 DWI arrests, including 273 drug-related DWI arrests.
“We encourage everyone to enjoy the summer and take advantage of all that our waterfront communities have to offer,” Freeport Police Department Deputy Chief of Police Donnie Ethier said. “This is an excellent time of year. We urge you to enjoy this time responsibly. Don’t drink and drive. Our summer patrols have increased, and there is zero tolerance for driving under the influence.”
“While we are excited about the start of summer and all the good that comes with it, we also know it’s when DWI-related crashes and deaths spike,” said Long Beach Police Commissioner Richard DePalma. “This support from District Attorney Donnelly saves lives. We want everyone who comes to Long Beach to get home safely from Long Beach and the DA’s assistance helps us achieve that.”
In a tragic nine-day span in August 2023, three drunk, drugged, and reckless drivers killed seven innocent victims in three separate crashes on Nassau County roadways.
In 2024, NCDA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau secured guilty pleas to the top charges for each of those defendants. The defendants were all sentenced before the first anniversary of those deadly crashes to a combined 20-54 years in prison.