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Bronxville Police Crack Down on Drinking, Violence

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Bronxville Police stepped up patrols over the weekend to the tune of $4,000 in overtime due to underage drinking, fighting and threats of violence made in recent weeks.

Extra patrols were added Monday after police said a threat referencing the village of Bronxville was discovered on a social media website from non-resident teenagers.

The threat, which police said referenced “bringing a Glock to Bronxville,” came following an incident roughly two weeks ago when two local teens were assaulted on Park Place. Police said officers were delayed in arriving to break up the fight because in an unrelated incident, they were busy escorting two Bronxville teens, both under the age of 16, to Lawrence Hospital because of alcohol poisoning.

"Frankly, I find the need to pay thousands in overtime for our officers to act as babysitters very disturbing," said Village Trustee Anne Poorman. "All are welcome in Bronxville on a Friday or Saturday night if they come here with a legal purpose and are respectful.”

Poorman, who is the liaison to the Bronxville Police Department, said five teens under the age of 16, all residents of Bronxville, have been hospitalized with alcohol poisoning since January – with the most recent incident occurring two weekends ago.

Poorman said Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale has estimated there were roughly 75 “unruly, disruptive” and “aggressive” students in the village during the assault incident on Park Place.  She said that by the time the police were available, both aggressors and victims had fled and no arrests were made. There was evidence of the fight and a witness who confirmed the altercation.

In the week following the assault, Poorman said the police department had been notified that there were notes on social media websites regarding the incident, including the “Glock” threat.  She said the village approved $4,000 in overtime to increase weekend patrols.

Poorman said the police chief met with the principals of the two private schools the kids attend, but no charges were filed because there was not enough specific information within the threats.

With warm weather likely to continue, Poorman said she expects more teens to be out and about in the village.

"The mayor, the trustees and the police will continue to take the loitering and unruly behavior seriously," Poorman said. "The mayor got a lot of grief a year ago when she spoke bluntly about this problem. Parents defended the right of their teens to hang out in our community for unlimited amounts of time and engage in questionable, even aggressive, behavior. Discovery of actual threats of violence have raised the problem to a new level."

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