Parade Arrests Were Down

A lower, seemingly more sober turnout at Sunday’s Montauk Friends of Erin St. Patrick’s Day parade resulted in a noticeable drop in arrests from recent years, as well as a reduction in quality-of-life citations issued along the parade route.

“Over all, it was a peaceful and relatively quiet parade,” Chief Michael D. Sarlo of the East Hampton Town Police Department said Monday. There were 10 parade-related arrests: “Eight were violations for unlawful possession of marijuana, one for disorderly conduct, and one for D.W.I.” (The arrest on a driving while intoxicated charge is detailed elsewhere in this issue.)

In addition, “17 town code summonses were issued for open alcohol, under-age possession of alcohol, or urinating in public.”

Not repeated this year was the slashing of tires on more than 20 vehicles downtown, which cast a pall over parade day last year.

In all, 90 officers, with help from 12 outside police agencies aside from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, were assigned to the parade. “It is a major undertaking,” Chief Sarlo said, “and we have tweaked our approach and evolved over the years in our enforcement efforts.”

“Congratulations and thanks,” he said, “go out to Lt. Chris Hatch for doing such a great job coordinating and directing the department’s efforts, as he starts his last week with the department.” Lieutenant Hatch, who has been the commanding officer of the Montauk precinct for the past three years, officially retires from the department tomorrow.