Press Release
May 20, 2004

Contact(s):
William J. Smith (718) 556-7150
District Attorney’s Office

Jim McGranachan (718) 354-4069
United States Coast Guard

Jane Zimmerman (212) 577-7719
Safe Horizon

District Attorney Donovan to Accept Donation of Cellular Phones from U.S. Coast Guard

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. today accepted a donation of over 100 Nextel cellular phones from the Captain Michael Moriarty, Executive Officer of the United States Coast Guard Activities New York. The cellular phones, pre-programmed to dial 9-1-1, will be provided to domestic violence victims through the Safe Horizon program.

“I am grateful for this generous donation from the men and women of the Coast Guard. They have once again demonstrated their unquestioned value as members of the Staten Island community. These cell phones will be immediately put into use to protect the most vulnerable of crime victims,” stated District Attorney Donovan.

Captain Moriarty, representing Captain Craig E. Bone, Commanding Officer of the largest Coast Guard operational command in the nation, added: "Even before the old Coast Guard Base St. George existed beside the ferry terminal, the Richmond County Office of the District Attorney and the Coast
Guard have each enjoyed a long history of community service to the people of Staten Island. All of us in the Coast Guard Community are grateful for the opportunity to continue this service."

Safe Horizon will be distributing the phones to domestic violence victims across Staten Island. “Safe Horizon is very proud to have such a strong partnership with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office and to be the recipients of such a generous donation by the U.S. Coast Guard. We will immediately begin distributing the cell phones to victims of domestic violence who use the Safe

Horizon Family and Criminal Court Programs. Such phones are critically important when doing safety planning with victims of domestic violence,” stated Gordon Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of Safe Horizon.

In the first quarter of 2004 alone, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office dispersed 4 cell phones to crime victims. Additionally, in 2002 and 2003, a total of 17 and 14 phones, respectively, were issued to victims.

Also in attendance at the press conference were: Yolanda L. Rudich, Chief, Sex Crimes/Special Victims Bureau, and Chief Petty Officer Michael Ditrani, Coast Guard Police Department.