LYNN – Police Chief John Suslak, in a wide-ranging discussion with The Item this week, spoke about department manning, the success of extra summer patrols in the city with help from outside agencies, and the need to hold youths and others accountable for quality-of-life crimes.
Suslak also touted the success of the earlier bar closings in the city, which he said has led to quieter streets in the early morning hours; expressed opposition to two questions on the November ballot; said he?s against civilian flagmen replacing police on road details; and does not understand the call by college and university presidents to lower the drinking age.
Department manning
After a spike in violence in early summer ? specifically six shootings in a 48-hour period June 7-9 – state police, sheriff?s deputies and federal agencies including the FBI, ATF, and DEA helped quell the crime wave by conducting sweeps and joining city police on patrols.
?That made a big impact,” Suslak said. “We?ve had tremendous cooperation from outside agencies.” He said a sheriff?s K-9 unit continues to assist with patrols in Lynn. “But we can?t expect that all of the time.
?We have 178 sworn (officers),” Suslak said. “I?d like to have 225, but I?m realistic,” Suslak said, noting he has to work within the department?s $18 million budget.
Another way the chief is boosting police presence on the streets is to have all senior officers, including himself, and detectives work at least one eight-hour shift per month on the streets in uniform May through October. “That gives us another 40 shifts, and it also helps those officers get back to their roots.”
The chief also touted the department?s efforts on crime prevention, not just response. He said he implemented a plan suggested by Capt. Leonard Desmaris to have officers adopt neighborhoods and hold them responsible to, in some way, work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.
?At roll call we?ll go around and ask each of the officers what they?ve done that?s positive, and there are plenty of stories,” Suslak said.
While responding to gang, drug and domestic violence incidents pose a constant and paramount challenge for police, Suslak said the department and the court also have to focus on lesser offenses that affect quality of life. If there are youths disturbing the peace or causing property damage in parks or elsewhere, Suslak said he?d like to see the court order them to spend a day cleaning up that same area.
?Those quality-of-life matters have to be taken seriously, because for the neighbors, it is serious,” he said.
Commenting on bars closing at 1 a.m., Suslak said it has gone smoothly and there has been a noticeable difference.
?Some suggested it would be a problem because of the (police) shift change at 1 a.m., but there?s been no problem,” he said, noting that nothing good can become of people consuming alcohol after 1 a.m. and then getting behind the wheel. “It was a good change, which is why we?re seeing other communities do the same.”
Gangs and drugs
In addition to extra patrols, Suslak said two things have proven helpful in gang and drug investigations.
The department has enhanced its Coplink service, which allows officers in patrol cars to instantly access data on an individual?s criminal record. This is especially useful, he said, to get info on those who come into the city from outside of Lynn.
He said increased use of grand juries is also proving an effective method to get witnesses to talk.
In drug cases, Suslak said, overdose victims who survive are often still reluctant to reveal details on their supplier. A grand jury, he said, can grant them immunity and force them to provide that information.
The number of drug overdoses in Lynn this year, as of July 31, was 51 with two fatalities.
?When there are overdoses we sometimes hear, ?There must be a bad batch of heroin out there.? It?s all bad,” Suslak said.
Marijuana and the drinking age
Several political issues
