Residents Call Meeting To Discuss Port Jefferson Station Slaying

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — A group of concerned civic leaders in Suffolk County are seeking a meeting with police and elected officials to discuss the recent murder of a man who was found stabbed to death on the Greenway in Port Jefferson Station.

The Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Civic Association has called for an emergency meeting at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station to discuss the stabbing as well as other quality-of-life issues on July 6.

It will start at 6 p.m.

Benjamin Flores-Mendez, 39, of Port Jefferson Station was found on the Greenway Trail, an area popular with hikers and bicyclists, near Clifton Avenue, just before 1 a.m. on June 17. He was found by officers responding to a 911 call, and they, as well as a crew of paramedics from the Terryville Fire Department, attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer told Newsday.

Flores-Mendez could not be revived and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Beyrer said.

Police have continued increased patrols in the area, according to its Public Information Bureau. No arrests have been made in connection with Flores-Mendez’s death.

Charlie McAteer, the civic group’s corresponding secretary, said that since the stabbing, police have increased patrols and have installed security cameras along the trail, and that has been helpful to address residents’ concerns, he said.

“All of these things are part of the proactive approach,” he added.

The civic group is looking to have its community members be able to speak to their elected representatives “to discuss this ongoing issue of the quality-of-life” in the hamlet.

“We have been seeing incidents and that is why we decided to call an emergency meeting with all of the players,” he said.

It is not only the stabbing that concerns residents, but also another past incident in which two people were caught engaged in a sex act, according to McAteer.

In the meantime, the group is telling residents to use the “buddy system, just like when you are going to the beach,” when they are on the trail, he said.

“It certainly is a lot safer that way,” he said, adding, “People should not be going to the trail after dark.”

Those instructions seem to have a “calming” effect, he said.

Suffolk police said that there will be a representative from the 6th Precinct attending the meeting.

A meeting with all of the stakeholders would help get everyone should be on the same page as far as their concerns for the area and how to proceed with plans for the former Lawrence Aviation site and Jefferson Plaza, according to McAteer.

The civic group is not only requesting representatives from the police department, but also all of the legislative offices, including those of Legis. Kara Hahn, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, as well as state senators Anthony Palumbo and Mario Mattera, and town leaders like Supervisor Ed Romaine, and Councilman Jonathan Kornreich, who represent the area.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392, or Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at 1-800-220-TIPS.