Second Safest City Blog

19 year old Patrick Coudin was arrested by Ramapo Police and charged with first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both of which are felonies, in addition to a charge of possession of crack cocaine. According to the Journal News, this incident of epic proportions included 30 people armed with improvised weapons including tire irons and box cutters. This is the third gang attack in Rockland since April. Coudin allegedly fired a single shot, wounding the leg of another teen. The article does not describe if the wounded teen was armed at the time, but as the old saying goes, never bring a knife (or a tire iron) to a gun fight.

After grand juries indicted 46 Rockland residents on various gun and drug charges, police launched an early-morning blitz on all the alleged drug dealers and gang members.

Less than two months ago, 21 people were arrested in a cocaine raid in Nyack. Both raids were part of the larger “Operation Clean Sweep”, a massive multi-year cross-jurisdiction effort to crack down on gangs and drug dealing in Rockland County. Despite the massive effort required to combat gang, gun, and drug crime in Rockland County, Clarkstown, the county seat of Rockland, remains the Second Safest City!

Drivers in Clarkstown, take notice: the next time you get pulled over by the Clarkstown Police, the officer may be riding in a taxi or a Honda Civic, and be wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

This provocative article outlines the questionable tactics of the Clarkstown Police in allowing officers in plain clothes to use completely unmarked cars for traffic stops and routine police work. Not surprisingly, the Clarkstown Police spokesman refused to issue comment until the town council prodded him. His response?

“Maybe that’s why we were just identified as the second safest community in New York State of a population our size. Being a resident of the town you should be very proud of your police department and the work we’re doing.”

Truly safe cities don’t need armed narcotics and gang task forces.