The Village of Floral Park has been named the safest municipality on Long Island and second safest  in New York state for 2021, according to alarms.org.

The development follows a trend from 2019 that has consistently placed the village in the higher echelon for safety in the area, according to FBI crime statistics. 

The report coincides with positive changes the village has seen since the appointment of Police Commissioner Stephen McAllister. Taking over in 2011, McAllister has overseen lower property crimes and burglaries throughout the village. He attributes it to a different approach to policing, one that he learned as a New York Police Department inspector who served the city for 25 years.

“Work smarter, not harder,” he said to Blank Slate Media in 2019. “To me, Floral Park defines community policing; it’s the perfect example.”

In 2020, the village was named the 18th safest municipality in the country. Rankings were measured via a combination of violent and property crime rates and the ratio of law enforcement to residents. 

The news was revealed at a Board of Trustees meeting at Village Hall Tuesday night by Trustee Frank J. Chiara. He is the board liaison to the Police Department, as well as the Community Police Advisory Committee.

Mayor Kevin M. Fitzgerald said he wasn’t too surprised by the results knowing the work and dedication of the Police Department. 

“It’s always nice to know but the credit goes to them, not me,” he said. “A large part of our town borders the city so it’s good to know how great of a job they’re doing.” 

Alarms.org is the site of the National Council for Home Safety and Security, a national trade association composed of licensed alarm installers and contractors, as well as other relevant trade groups. Founded in 2006, it provides articles, research and reports on home security and safety. 

Nearby cities that were listed in the 2021 state report were Port Washington and Garden City at No. 25 and No. 48, respectively.