FBI Director Credits Local Police For Historic Crime Drop

FBI Director Kash Patel returned to his native Long Island Thursday to deliver a message of falling crime, aggressive enforcement and the importance of federal and local police partnerships during a gathering hosted by the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, United Coalition of Public Safety and Suffolk County Asian Jade Society.

Speaking before more than 500 law enforcement officers at the Port Jefferson County Club, Patel highlighted FBI statistics showing substantial increases in arrests, fugitive captures and other enforcement actions during the past 18 months. He specifically credited the Suffolk County Police Department with helping drive down crime in the region.

“This has been the most prolific run of crime reduction in United States history with the help of our great partners since the beginning of the Trump administration,” Patel said.

Patel detailed an extensive record of nationwide FBI enforcement activity over the past 18 months:

54,000 violent criminals arrested by the FBI, up 90% from the previous 18-month period. 31,000 violent gang members arrested, an increase of 30%. 3,258 kilograms of fentanyl seized. 11,081 child victims located and identified. 5,072 child predators and human traffickers arrested, up 13%. 4,260 foreign terrorist organization-related affiliates arrested, up 38%. 1,100 criminal perpetrators stopped from carrying out terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. 86 foreign transfers of custody involving suspects captured overseas, up 54%. 157 criminals extradited from overseas, an increase of 65%. All 10 fugitives on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list during the current administration captured.

“This FBI is making America safe,” Patel stated.

The bureau’s recently released 2025 Uniform Crime Report provides additional context for the Director’s remarks.

Violent crime fell 9.3% nationwide in 2025, while murder and non-negligent manslaughter dropped 18.1%, robbery 18.5%, rape 7.6% and aggravated assault 7.2%. The violent-crime rate fell to 327.6 offenses per 100,000 people, the largest decline since national estimates began in 1936.

Suffolk PBA President Louis Civello, who also serves as president of the national United Coalition of Public Safety, said Patel emphasized the role Suffolk officers have played in the broader effort.

“The director went over the recent strides we’ve made in reducing violent crime,” Civello noted. “He credited Suffolk County PD as a large part of that here on Long Island and New York.”

Civello pointed to the partnership between local and federal law enforcement as a key part of the effort to combat crimes that often extend well beyond Suffolk County.

“We work at various levels with the FBI and our federal partners on joint task forces and information sharing, resource sharing, especially when it comes to violent transnational gangs, fentanyl, things of that nature,” Civello said.

Patel said the crime results demonstrate what can happen when federal agencies work closely with local departments.

“The violent crime rate is the lowest in American history,” Patel said, also pointing to the steep decline in murders. The FBI’s published data more specifically show the 2025 violent-crime rate was the lowest dating to 1936, while the murder rate fell to 4.1 per 100,000 — matching the rate recorded in 1955 and 1956.

Patel also cited terrorist plots disrupted in California, Texas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, including what he described as a recently thwarted ISIS-inspired attack in Pittsburgh.

“These attacks did not happen because the FBI and our partners worked around the clock, found the threats and stopped them,” Patel said.

The Port Jefferson event included a fireside chat addressing federal-local collaboration, officer safety, doxxing and harassment. Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina participated in the panel along with Civello and County Chief Deputy District Attorney Alan Bode.

County Executive Ed Romaine delivered opening remarks, while County Legislator Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo, State Sen. Mario Mattera, Comptroller John Kennedy and Legislators Dominick Thorne and Stephanie Bontempi were among those attending.

For Patel, the gathering also carried a personal significance.

“The Director was very honored, being from Long Island himself, to be able to come home, as he put it, and spend time with his brothers and sisters in law enforcement from the place that he grew up,” Civello said. “It was a great event, and we were honored to be a part of it.”