Southold Town Police Chief Steve Grattan outlined the department’s proposed policy for responding in a peacemaking capacity to reports of other law enforcement agencies operating within the town at a work session to discuss public safety during immigration raids Tuesday afternoon.
The work session came on the heels of a public meeting July 29 at which many residents made impassioned pleas for the town to take action during immigration raids, and after a task force convened by the town to study the issue in February failed to reach a consensus on what to do.
The Aug. 4 conversation was notable in its lack of discussion on whether the town would adopt a local law drafted by the Latino advocacy group OLA of Eastern Long Island to guide municipalities’ response to public safety during ICE raids. Five members of the task force had recommended adopting the OLA law, against the advice of the Southold Town Attorney, as first reported in The Beacon.
Just before the meeting, Congressman Nick LaLota’s re-election campaign released an email soliciting donations saying “Southold appears poised to reject the sanctuary proposal. In recommending against it, the Town Attorney specifically cited my position, warning that it put “real dollars at stake” for the Town. The far Left wanted to export the Mamdani-Hochul sanctuary agenda from deep-blue East Hampton across Suffolk County. I stood up, and Southold is poised to say no.”
At the start, Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski set a short list of goals for the brief meeting, which lasted just over an hour and included no public comment. The goals included discussing communication during an incident, deescalation training, whether the town should form a standing task force on immigration enforcement actions and how to best get information out to the public. The town board is expected to continue the conversation at its Aug. 11 work session.
Chief Grattan said the department’s draft “Outside Agency Procedure” would govern how officers respond to reports of another law enforcement agency operating within Southold’s boundaries under three scenarios — whether Southold Police had prior notification of the agency’s actions; during “patrol pickups,” which he said can be the most contentious situation; and when members of the public call Southold headquarters to report an incident.
The policy, he said, would “direct our officers to assist with peacekeeping efforts” in situations that could become contentious, including when “bystanders are gathering creating a potential confrontation,” in an attempt to “deescalate and restore order.”
He added that when Town Police are responding to an incident, their body cameras are rolling as per department policy, and these situations would be no different.
“Having our officers on the scene responding is crucial,” said Town Councilwoman Alexa Suess. “They’re there as a calming measure. They’re there to be there and present with body cameras on. They’re there to neither obstruct or assist but they’re present.”
Chief Grattan said that he was unaware of any 911 calls to Southold Police during a chaotic ICE raid in Greenport in February. Neighbors were blowing whistles and recording immigration agents on a small residential street during that raid.
“I know there were concerns with our response to that one, but when people were blowing whistles, during that time, no one contacted 911 to report that,” he said.
“This will be a participatory process, where a call would start that rolling,” said Councilwoman Kate Stevens. “It’s important for people to let that sink in.”
“It’s going to be very important that the public is aware of these protocols,” said Ms. Suess.
The board also hashed out how information about potential immigration enforcement actions spreads through the town police force and town leadership.
Chief Grattan said during most major incidents, officers on scene follow the chain of command, contacting their sergeant, then a lieutenant, captain and the chief, who would contact the town supervisor, or if the supervisor is unavailable, other members of the town board, who serve as Southold’s police commissioners. Mr. Krupski said when he is notified, he would contact the Greenport mayor and members of the town board.
Chief Grattan said that chain of command could be shortened so the town supervisor is notified sooner, but cautioned against notifying schools too soon in the process, to avoid unnecessarily panicking students and parents over rumors of immigration actions near the school.
A portion of the Feb. 4 raids took place near the Greenport School, though rampant rumors spread that day that immigration agents were on school property. A quarter of the student body didn’t come to school that day.
Chief Grattan said his department could also prepare press releases notifying the public of what they have witnessed, while Ms. Suess said members of the Town Board could also make post-event statements.
Board members said a task force could assist in those communication efforts, and Councilwoman Anne Smith said there is also a need for people who “are struggling with food and provisions, and that kind of safety net. The clergy and not-for-profits are there for people instantly in our schools.” Ms. Stevens said the task force could also assist in reviewing body camera footage after the incidents.
“Fear is an important part of this,” said Councilman Brian Mealy, who served on the Public Safety Task Force with Councilwoman Jill Doherty, who was not present at the Aug. 4 meeting. He added that he was glad five community members on the task force were able to bring a human face to how the raids have affected the lives of residents.
“To me, the people who gave the recommendations are so crucial. I might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after listening to their stories, but I’m glad we took the time to hear from parents whose kids are afraid to go to school,” he said. “We’re trying in earnest to make the best decision for everybody. Maybe the best result is nobody’s happy. It’s difficult but we’re not giving up.”
“I’m looking forward to sitting down with the Town Attorney to discuss our procedure and make sure there’s no potential litigation,” said Chief Grattan after the meeting.
Just before Southold’s work session, we received a fundraising email from Congressman Nick LaLota’s office regarding his threat to withhold discretionary funding from municipalities that adopted the OLA public safety law.
Below is the text of the email, which came in under the subject line “We’re actually stopping sanctuary policies from spreading”:
“When East Hampton Town and Village adopted Long Island’s first sanctuary policies, far-Left activists immediately began pushing to spread them across Suffolk County.
Southold was supposed to be next.
So I drew a clear line: towns that restrict cooperation between local Police and federal immigration authorities will not have my support for millions of dollars in discretionary federal earmarks.
Now, that position is having an impact.
Southold appears poised to reject the sanctuary proposal. In recommending against it, the Town Attorney specifically cited my position, warning that it put “real dollars at stake” for the Town.
The far Left wanted to export the Mamdani-Hochul sanctuary agenda from deep-blue East Hampton across Suffolk County.
I stood up, and Southold is poised to say no.
I believe the community, our Cops, and those being arrested are all safer when local, state, and federal Law Enforcement communicate and cooperate. And taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize local governments that deliberately restrict that cooperation.
I became the first Member of Congress in America to explicitly condition my support for federal earmarks on rejecting sanctuary policies. I hope others follow my lead because Washington shouldn’t reward communities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
The activists pushing these policies aren’t going away. They’ll keep organizing and trying to move Long Island further Left.
I’ll keep standing in their way.“
He then asks for donations to his re-election campaign.
The proposals before the Southold Town Board do not include becoming a sanctuary city.
Members of the board either declined or did not respond Tuesday to Mr. LaLota’s statement.
The Southold Town Board is next expected to discuss the issue at its Aug. 11 work session, which starts at 9 a.m. The town has also recently updated its website to include documents to be discussed — they’re available online here.
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