After several incidents over the past few months, including a recent arrest at the middle school, the issue of gangs in Mineola has moved to the forefront of village and school district topics.

"The Mineola School system is a safe and hospitable place to learn," began Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Jaroslaw at the May 11 Board of Education Meeting.

Jaroslaw then introduced two detectives from the Nassau County Police Special Investigations Squad who addressed the assemblage of concerned Mineola School District parents on the topic of gangs in Nassau County.

The two detectives, who were not public relations officers, appeared before the parents to speak frankly about gangs and the measures they have taken to deal with the situation.

The detective insisted that the issue of gangs is not one that is attached to one ethnic group or nationality, but is instead a problem affecting and perpetuated by a spectrum of socioeconomic groups.

The detective said that in the recent gang related incidents, one particular ethnic group has been bearing the brunt of gang accusations, however the vast majority of that selfsame group consist of hard working people. These hard working people are in fact the people most preyed upon by the gangs.

The most recent arrest came as the result of the alleged petitioning of a young girl to join a gang. Once the petitioner stepped on private property, namely the Mineola Middle School, the principal worked in conjunction with the police to have him arrested and sent to jail.

This is just one of the examples of how the police were working with the schools.

When asked what suggestions the police had made for tighter school security, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Sheldon Dumain answered that the meetings between the teachers and the police had to deal with the students outside the school because the problem is what the students encounter outside of the schools.

The purpose of the meetings with the teachers and public forums, such as the board of education meeting, was to demonstrate that the police have taken action to keep what is currently a concern from turning into a problem.

"I say this not to scare you, I say this so you keep aware," said one detective, "This is not a problem that people should look at and think 'I know it it is going on, but not it is not in my backyard.'"

Because of the nature of the investigations, there was not a lot of information that the two detectives could give, however POPs Officer Harry Reddan gave some specifics to the crowd.

Reddan informed the crowd that four more officers have been assigned to Mineola and patrols have been increased. "I would not do anything wrong in Mineola for a while," he said.

Mayor John P. Colbert who attended the meeting, explained further action was being taken by the village in a series of illegal resident searches and the removal of gang friendly pay phones.

Currently, the school district is working with the village to receive permission from the Nassau County Comptroller to establish a police booth on school owned property at the corner of Lincoln and Willis Avenues.

And what of that property, location of the Willis Avenue School? Jaroslaw said that the school district is working with CELT, an organization that will help to restructure the district's resources to their maximum effect. Working with CELT, the district hopes to come up with the best use for Willis Avenue School.

The goal is to send an extremely strong message to gang members. "We do whatever is necessary to come down hard on them, " said the detective.