By Hank Russell
Long Island has seen a decrease in shootings, and the number of overdose deaths has gone down statewide. Despite these marked improvements, some say that “so much more needs to be done,” especially when it comes to the opioid crisis hitting here.
According to data provided by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, Nassau County saw a 56% decline in shootings in the first seven months this year, compared to January to July 2023, and a 69% drop over the five-year average year to date from 2019 to 2023.
Further, the number of those who were killed or injured by a shooting were down 44% from last year and 53% from the five-year average. Long Island Life & Politics recently reported that Nassau was named the safest community in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
“This news proves once again that my office’s relentless work to ensure Nassau County remains one of the safest communities in the nation is paying off,” said Nassau County DIstrict Attorney Anne Donnelly.
In Suffolk County, shootings dropped 50% year to date compared to last year and 59% from the last five years. From January to July 2024, the number of people who were injured or killed as a result of a shooting was down 55%, compared to the first seven months from last year; it was also 71% lower than the five-year average.
“Due to the hard work of our assistants, investigators and law enforcement partners, our gang and gun violence numbers have been significantly reduced since we took office in 2022,” said Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney. “Over the past two years this office has prioritized gang violence prosecution and prevention efforts, as well as fighting the opioid overdose crisis. While we are gratified to see some improvement in the numbers, so much more needs to be done.”
Hochul also announced that $40 million has been awarded for the next phase of the Youth Employment Program, which she says plays a role in the GIVE initiative and will help reduce gun violence by providing job opportunities and training to at-risk youth.
Another issue affecting Long Island and the state has been the scourge of overdose deaths from lethal drugs such as opioids and fentanyl. The good news is that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that reported drug overdose deaths fell 10.5% year over year.
“The significant drop in shootings this year and decreases in drug overdose deaths are a testament to our law enforcement partnerships and commitments to protecting residents and their families,” Donnelly said. “I will continue to zero in on driving down illegal gun activity and keeping drugs off our streets to keep our communities thriving.”
But Tierney said not enough is being done to drive down the number of overdose deaths. He met with state legislators in Albany urging them to pass four bills to help with the opioid crisis.
“To date, the New York State legislature has done nothing whatsoever to pass commonsense legislation to address the opioid overdose crisis,” Tierney said. “That legislative inaction, coupled with a judiciary who still offers diversion to deadly fentanyl dealers makes it more difficult for law enforcement to mitigate the thousands of New Yorkers dying every year from tragic and preventable overdose deaths.”