Last week in response to increasing reports of gang activity across the country, Nassau County Executive Tom Gulotta announced the creation of a Gang Intervention Partnership to act as a pre-emptive measure in fighting gang related crimes.

Graffiti, robberies, assaults, narcotics and general intimidation are some of the crimes that the police are concerned could stem from gang activity.

The measures to prevent these criminal acts will stem from a centralized collection of gang related intelligence and its dissemination through different police agencies and the public.

The idea, created through the efforts of the county executive and Police Commissioner Donald Kane, will enhance communications between Nassau County and agencies such as the FBI, the NYPD, the Suffolk County PD and the different levels of government.

Furthermore, the District Attorney's Office will offer zero tolerance when they prosecute by not accepting a plea below the highest provable crime of gang member defendants.

The coordinator for the Gang Intervention Partnership will be Assistant Chief Herbert Faust, First Deputy Chief of Detectives.

Faust is both an FBI National Police Academy graduate and a 32-year-veteran of the NCPD who has acted as the commander for both the Precinct Detective Squads and the 4th Precinct.

Faust commented that there is a lot of good police work going on in Nassau County and this new initiative will network all the resources at the police department's disposal and improve the system.

"The goal of this new partnership is to prevent the often anti-social, violent activity that is associated with gang membership," said Kane in an issued statement, "It will utilize all resources for a direct approach in identifying any further problems that gang activity might cause."

Areas such as Port Washington, Westbury, Hempstead and Mineola have in recent times been the locations of gang related incidents ranging from graffiti to murder.

Mineola, POPs Officer Harry Reddan, who works in the village of Mineola on a daily basis, said that the 3rd Precinct will have a gang coordinator of its own.

The goal in having these gang coordinators is the proper dissemination of pertinent information through the use of important crime fighting tools like computers.

Faust explained that though evidence shows that there is gang activity and that it does appear throughout the county, the measures being taken are not because the county is in danger, just that it is being cautious.

Reddan agreed that though there is nothing for residents of Mineola or the communities within the county to fear, measures should be taken to make sure that gang activity does not become a major problem.

He described this initiative, of which he is in favor, as "preventative medicine."

In an issued statement, Gulotta echoed those sentiments. "The program is a pre-emptive, pro-active approach to permit the county to effectively and efficiently confront any potential crime problems that might arise due to gang behavior. We will not permit gangs to get a foothold in Nassau County," he said.

Gulotta added, "The safety of our citizens remains paramount. We will continue to drive down the crime rate. Nassau County will not be home to hoodlums, crooks or gangs."

Though to some the eradication of gangs from the county may seem unrealistic, Faust has taken an extremely positive outlook. "I may be naive but I am optimistic enough to believe that we can make a definite impact."

Faust urges the community in its vigilance to contact their local precincts if they witness what they believe to be gang related activity. Then through the Partnership the NCPD can effectively deal with the situation to protect the communities of Nassau County from gang related crimes.