I would like to clarify misunderstandings regarding the reporting of hate crimes within Suffolk County . Some have noted a decline in hate crimes in Suffolk and automatically, and without substantiation, assumed numbers were manipulated. Let me emphatically state this is not true.

Our declining statistics are mirrored throughout the region. Westchester and New York City also have reported just a single hate crime against Hispanics in 2008. And according to the New York Department of Criminal Justice Services, Nassau and Suffolk reported an identical number of hate crimes - 13 - against Hispanics from 2005-2007.

The public and the media must understand the difference between a hateful act and a hate crime.

When teens wrote sexual and racially offensive remarks on cars in Mastic with shoe polish, we were accused of "covering up" a hate crime. The fact is that while this is hateful speech, it cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime under state law because the act didn't target a specific individual and could not make a reasonable person believe he or she was in harm's way.

On the other hand, a swastika painted on a Jewish family's house or a burning cross or a noose placed on the property of an African-American would certainly come under the umbrella of the hate crime law.

Just two years ago, harassing an African-American with a noose, as hateful as it is, could not be classified as a hate crime. County Executive Steve Levy successfully led the charge to change the state law.

There is concern that some undocumented individuals are timid about reporting they were victimized by a hate crime. Consequently, the department is promoting an outreach program to assure all residents that they can freely report any and all crimes without fear of reprisal. It is not the practice of the Suffolk Police to ask the legal status of a victim when investigating crimes.

Richard Dormer

Editor's note: The writer is Suffolk County police commissioner.

Yaphank

It's all on Plaxico

Bob Glauber got it completely wrong when he wrote, "In the end, the only person [Plaxico] Burress really hurt was himself" .

How about his teammates? How about the owners of the night club? How about the doctor who treated him? How about the Giants organization? Sure, they save contract money because they can separate him from the team without pay. But he's endangered their run to the playoffs and their chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Instead of treating this as a cautionary tale, a lesson to young people about being careful about who they associate with, Glauber just repeats Burress' own mantra, one that has served to justify - at least to himself - his self-destructive, anti-social behavior. But Burress didn't limit the consequences of his behavior to himself.

Paul E. DuBois

Bayside

I find it amazing to hear, read and see the media coverage of Burress' arrest. Yes, it's a crime to carry a loaded gun in New York City. I'm sure his lawyers will put every possible spin on this event, but to me it seems quite simple: Justice is blindfolded, truly fair and only answers to one power, not race or wealth or gender. Justice answers to the law and only to the law. The law is quite clear here.

The crime carries a heavy penalty with it and that was enacted by the legislators who represent all of us. But abusing the law or showing ignorance of it will not be a sufficient excuse for Burress' actions.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was correct in speaking about this incident soon after it happened. The playing field for justice must be as level as that of the Football field. Let the process of justice begin.

Steven Cohen

Little Neck

Recent revelations about the Plaxico Burress shooting ["Tight coverage for Burress," Sports, Dec. 2] leave some serious questions unanswered.

Details are slow to unravel regarding the actions of the three New York Giants and will take time and the legal system to resolve. But I am very interested in how, after a number of phone calls to New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Burress was treated, stayed for 11 hours under an alias, and left without the hospital reporting the gunshot to the police.

Are drug dealers, murderers, rapists, robbers or gang members who have been shot, able to make similar calls and get similar treatment? The mayor is right, investigate the hospital to restore public confidence.

John R. Brooks

Garden City

I'm glad to see that the mayor wants celebrities and role models to know that they are not above the law and that he wants them to be prosecuted to the fullest, like everyone else. It's just too bad that politicians are not included in his list.

Steve Woznik

Huntington Station

OK, we understand that Plaxico Burress was out of the lineup for the Redskins game due to injury when he shot himself, but what were Antonio Pierce and Derrick Ward doing out after midnight in New York City on a Friday night before a road game?

Isn't there some kind of curfew? What happened to the tough-as-nails coach, Tom Coughlin?

Erik Lander

Brooklyn

Lottery millions, but school cuts?

In an attempt to close a $2 billion state deficit, Gov. David Paterson proposed, among other things, nearly $70 million in cuts to New York schools. Just the other day, it was announced that the lottery jackpot was valued at more than $120 million. Does anyone see anything wrong with this?

What does it say about our society and government when we're willing to give a huge - even excessive - windfall to someone for gambling, but we are willing to shortchange thousands of students in our education system? Is a $120 million jackpot really necessary? Wouldn't anyone be happy with say, $10 million, and the rest be put toward the greater good?

Richard Martino

Smithtown