Law Enforcement

In the United States, full time law enforcement did not begin until the mid-1800s. The first police forces were started in New York and in Boston. New York’s first police force was created in 1845. There has been as police presence in Center Moriches since at least the 1940s when Brookhaven Town had its own police force. The local substation still covers the same amount of territory, however, the number of residents has increased. The population growth has brought about an increase in crime, and more incidents are reported. Currently, the Suffolk County Police District covers the five western towns of Suffolk County (Center Moriches is included in this coverage) while the Suffolk County Sheriff covers the entire county.

Joseph E Townsend Jr., a security guard at Center Moriches High School, is a retired police officer. He notes that there have not been many changes in law enforcement since he began his career as a Deputy Sheriff Investigator. Mr. Townsend grew up in Center Moriches and was in the United States Army. He became a police officer in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department on January 30, 1967, and held that position for over 29 years.