Fishers Island is facing an unusual issue: police officers allegedly squatting in a home meant for ferry workers.
A $2 million lawsuit from officials at the Fishers Island Ferry District claims that police from Southold and Sauceld have illegally taken over the property located at 357 Whistler Ave., which violates laws against unlawful eviction.
The lawsuit suggests, “We haven’t seen anything like this in the country for at least 200 years.”
The situation on the island escalated when Southold police assumed control of policing there in November.
Apparently, after the state police vacated the deteriorating police barracks in 2023, local officials provided some homes in the Ferry District for officers to use temporarily. This was highlighted in the lawsuit.
However, on December 17, the town board opted to revoke management of the Ferry District property, failing to mention any legal grounds for doing so, according to court documents.
The Ferry District hadn’t agreed to this change, especially since they had recently renovated the properties for staff housing, as stated in the lawsuit.
While the district committee rejected this move on December 30, officers still entered the property on New Year’s Day, according to the lawsuit.
“Faced with the denial of the Ferry District… the town’s board directed the police to take matters into their own hands and occupy the property,” it claims.
The legal action asserts that police officers have pressured residents in the Ferry District by threatening arrest for anyone who has lived there unlawfully for over five months.
Currently, the district is working to remove these officers, contest the legality of their presence, and seek a court ruling for $2 million in damages.
Alklbsky, the supervisor of Southold Town, chose not to comment but mentioned that the town is dedicated to renovating the old police barracks.
A pre-trial conference is set to take place on June 25 before Suffolk Supreme Court Judge Joseph Farneti.
