Suffolk County District Legal professional Ray Tierney touted his workplace’s work combating the fentanyl disaster and lastly nabbing the alleged Gilgo Seaside serial killer as he introduced his reelection marketing campaign Tuesday.
The Lengthy Island Republican mentioned he’s made good on the numerous guarantees he made throughout his 2021 marketing campaign — however mentioned there’s extra work to be carried out, particularly in relation to battling fentanyl.
“If you happen to take a look at our murder numbers in comparison with our overdose numbers in Suffolk County — that can’t be ignored,” Tierney mentioned, noting there have been 25 homicides and 464 overdoses in 2023.
“We have to cease sticking our heads within the sand, and we have to handle it,” he mentioned. “We’re going to work tirelessly to get that quantity down.”
He additionally pointed to his workplace’s creation of a murder bureau, a gang bureau and a activity power that investigated the Gilgo Seaside murders as proof that he’s modified the construction of the county legislation enforcement company.
“I feel after we checked out [the Gilgo Beach case], the naked bones have been there,” he mentioned. “However what was lacking was a complete method and correct management.”
“So … we utilized the experience and the sources of a terrific many individuals,” he continued. “We took these sources, that know-how, and that data and we put all of it collectively. And we got here up with a end result which we’re nonetheless engaged on.”
Ultimately, authorities collared suspected killer Rex Heuermann and arrested him outdoors his Manhattan workplace final 12 months.
He’s been charged with seven murders — Mack, Jessica Taylor, 20, Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Sandra Costilla, 28, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27.
“Going ahead, we’re beginning to get into the meat of the case with pretrial hearings,” he mentioned. “So we look ahead to initiating that subsequent stage of the case.”
“That is just the start,” Tierney mentioned of his marketing campaign. “We’re going to proceed the work, and I’m going to proceed to meet these guarantees.”
Tierney, a profession prosecutor, was elected as Suffolk County’s prime prosecutor in 2021. He’s up for reelection for the four-year time period on the finish of the 12 months.
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