Curtis Sliwa

Riverhead's state of emergency, issued last Tuesday night, is based on rumors, half-truths and lies. That's no way to govern. The order should be rescinded.

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa responds to comments by Sister Margaret Smith last week about the group's lack of visibility in Riverhead.

The Riverhead BID board is taking a public stance against Guardian Angel patrols, saying they will tarnish Riverhead's image, but owners in the area surrounding the railroad station — where Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa says the group will target — believe their presence will deter crime.

Riverhead officials and the presidents of the town police union and BID say the Guardian Angels are not needed here and will just contribute to an already negative perception of downtown Riverhead.

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa and Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter both say the group, which has established successful patrols in Greenport, will begin Riverhead patrols by month’s end.

Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter says some local officials on the East End have their heads in the sand and need to 'wake up and smell the coffee' on the gang issue. The Guardian Angels, 'like community watch on steroids' can provide valuable inroads for communication with Hispanic population, he says.