Suffolk police hate crimes hotline accepting calls about bias incidents, officials announce

Suffolk County residents can now report bias incidents to a new hate crime hotline, Suffolk County police announced Tuesday. 

The hotline, 631-852-HATE, will be monitored by the Suffolk County Hate Crimes Unit from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison said Tuesday afternoon.

Residents are still encouraged to call 911 in emergencies related to hate crimes if they cannot reach detectives. Detectives also will listen to messages left on weekends or overnight.

"There's no tolerance for hate in Suffolk County," Harrison said. "As much as this is one of the safest counties in the state of New York, we are still not immune to the crime and those who spew hate toward others."

Suffolk County police said Det. Sgt. Nancy Quattrociocchi leads the Hate Crimes Unit of three detectives.

Reports of hate crimes are consistent with last year, she said, though more incidents have been reported so far this year than by this point last year.

Hate crime arrests are up too, with seven arrests so far this year, she said.

Suffolk police investigated 20 hate crimes last year as well as 52 hate incidents, which are those involving an element of hate that do not rise to the level of a hate crime as defined under New York state law, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. The Hate Crimes Unit reviewed 383 additional calls that could possibly be deemed hate offenses, Bellone said.

"The Suffolk County Police Department hate crimes detectives have investigated just this year alone, for hate crimes, 28 hate incidents and reviewed 92 additional calls," Bellone said. "This hotline will be a vital resource and provide guidance and support for the people of Suffolk County, who have unfortunately noticed incidents of hate or experienced it."

In Nassau County, police follow the state’s human rights law that says anyone who feels they’ve been discriminated against, including due to race, can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Hate crimes and bias Incidents can be reported to the Nassau County Police Bias Crimes Coordinator at 516-573-7360.

The New York attorney general established a hate crimes hotline following a rising number of reports of harassment and assaults along with a rhetoric against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hate crimes and bias incidents can be reported by emailing the attorney general’s Civil Rights Bureau at civil.rights@ag.ny.gov or by calling 800-771-7755.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.