The-Leader_2004-07-15

              69th Year, No. 28 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Enough Is Enough
Freeporters vow to take back their streets from gang violence
by Laura Schofer
Bernard Smith leaned back and gripped the table. Tears filled his eyes. "All the children in this community are my chil­dren," he said. He took a deep breath arid continued. "We are all very upset about the death of Dianna Correa. How can someone be so bold as to attack a member of our community in this way? We won't stand for this'"
A murmur of agreement passed through the room.
"We're here to give the community an opportunity to talk - about violence, about gangs, about the police," Mr. Smith, president of the Northeast Freeport Civic Association (NFCA) told the 30 or so people who had gathered in the community room at the Freeport Library last Thursday.
Dianna Correa, a 15-year-old girl, was shot to death on the steps of a friend's house on June 21. She is another innocent victim of violence that began in 1999 with the death of Damien Corrente, then Jose White and now Dianna.
Police Chief Michael Woodward warned residents that Dianna's death,, unlike Damien's and Jose's, "does "
not appear to be gang-related," he told members of NEFCA. "We have some good leads on this crime."
Nevertheless, community members were concerned about gangs and believe there is an overall surge in youth related violence. On June 23, residents met for the first time in Roosevelt at a previously scheduled meeting sponsored by Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams about gang violence. HEVN (Helping End Violence Now), provided the guest speaker. It is a group that works to end gang and youth violence. It was original­ly founded in Roosevelt several years ago and is modeled on the 10-point program in Boston, a city that had been overrun by gang violence. In the end, that communi­ty took back its streets and its youth. That is what the people of Roosevelt and now Freeport hope to do.
A follow-up meeting with HEVN and its President Bishop J. Raymond Mackey, took place at Refuge Apostolic Church of Christ on June 29.
But Mr. Smith told residents that the HEVN meeting was scheduled at the last minute and not enough people had an opportunity to leam about the meeting. "This meeting is the next step," he told
For every child we
save, there are 50 that
fall through the cracks."
residents.
GLOW Civic Association President James Caracciolo was also at the meeting to lend his support. "The gang problem is all over Freeport and we need to address it," he told The Leader.
About Gangs
Chief Woodward gave residents a brief history of gangs and gang-related vio­lence that has been on an upswing since "the late '90s. They have an unbelievable potential for violence. The best way to fight [them] is with information," said the chief
He explained that the police depart­ment tries to "flip gang members but their numbers are increasing despite our best efforts." Chief-Woodward rattled a laun­dry list of-pfograms the police department is involved in - the "Adopt-A-Cop" pro­gram for fourth-grade students, career day for fifth and sixth-graders; a career mentoring program for at Dodd Middle School and their participation in Human Rights Day at the high school.
In addition the Freeport Police have a detective assigned to the FBI's Gang Task force. "We have a home visit program for at-risk youth. We go to their homes and speak to their parents and to the kids. When we talk to gang members they tell us they entrap you by saying 'we are your fam­ily.' We tell them the reality is you will be disabled, injured, arrested and then die." Although the home visit program is suc­cessful, "for every child we save, there are 50 that fall through the cracks," Chief Woodward told The Leader.
"We're trying to do our part," said Chief Woodward. He complained that the judicial system makes it easy for these gang members to Ife out of the county jail in 90 days and that what is needed is more federal prosecution. He also complained that grant money has been drastically cut for anti-gang, anti-violence programs since 9/11.
"We need you," he said. "I see the same 20 or 30 people at these meetings. Talk to your neighbors, get them involved. Gang members tell us again and again that they would not have, gotten involved if they had some kind of support from home."
One resident agreed that the police have done a good job with preventive programs and that she is aware of a police presence "during the day but we need more police at night," she said. Jim Caracciolo asked, "How do you (continued on page 11)
all calls remain
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SHOT TO DEATH
Dianna Correa -15 yrs.
Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public's help in connection with a shooting-homicide that occurred in Freeport, New York.
On Monday, June 21, 2004 at about 10:25 PM, at 53 N. Columbus Ave., 15-year-old Dianna Correa was shot to death. She was sitting on a porch with friends when a male who was riding a bike fired shots hitting Dianna and another person.
The shooter is described as a male black, 18-25 years, old with dread­locks, wearing a gray t-shirt. He was riding a dark-colored moiintain bike. This subject was previously seen with another male, riding bikes.
Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information regarding this crime to call our toU free hotline, 1-800-241-TIPS. All calls are anonymous and you do not have to reveal your identity or testify in court. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. 1-800-244-TIPS.
www,.police.co.hassau.ny.us
B Freeport and Baldwin boards reorganize pages 2&5
• Villageboard pages
• Correa reward fund ..page 8
• Freeport community deveiopment dean-up page 9