Fishers Island, NY – A $2 million federal lawsuit filed May 29 by the Fishers Island Ferry District accuses the Town of Southold, its Town Board, and the Southold Police Department of an unprecedented “self-help” eviction and occupation of district-owned staff housing at 357 Whistler Avenue. The Ferry District calls the action “an unconstitutional seizure of public land,” alleging that officers forced entry with crowbars on January 1 and have lived there—threatening arrest to anyone who tries to remove them—for more than five months.
There is no Google Earth street view
“Fishers Island police squatting”
“Southold police Ferry District”
“357 Whistler Ave Southold lawsuit”
Southold Town Police Department Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570204924494
Background & Timeline
- November 2024: Southold assumes full policing authority on Fishers Island after New York State Police vacate their aging barracks (originally built in 1960s and abandoned in 2023 for safety concerns) danspapers.com.
- December 17, 2024: Southold Town Board votes to revoke the Ferry District’s control of 357 Whistler Avenue—despite having no legal authority under New York law to reassign district property—and designates it as “temporary” police housing.
- December 30, 2024: Ferry District board members unanimously reject the Town Board’s attempted takeover, voting to retain exclusive control over the renovated, permitted staff quarters m.facebook.com.
- January 1, 2025: In the early hours, a contingent of Southold officers allegedly breaks in with crowbars, forcibly evicts three district employees, and moves in, changing the locks and posting “Southold Police Department” signage. The complaint calls this “self-help” eviction a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause and New York’s wrongful-eviction statutes.
- January–May 2025: Officers remain in residence, reportedly stocking the kitchen, doing laundry, and using the garage. Ferry-district officials claim officers threatened to arrest any worker who attempted to retrieve belongings or inspect the property.
- May 29, 2025: Ferry District files suit in Suffolk Supreme Court (Index No. 613873/2025), seeking:
- A declaratory judgment that the occupation is unlawful
- Immediate injunctive relief to eject officers from the premises
- $2 million in damages for wrongful eviction, trespass, and loss of use nypost.com.
- June 25, 2025: Pre-motion conference scheduled before Justice Joseph Farneti.
Key Legal Claims
- Wrongful Eviction & Trespass:
The suit alleges Southold officers violated New York Real Property Actions & Proceedings Law by forcibly removing lawful occupants without judicial process. - Due Process Violation (14th Amendment):
By using “self-help” to seize district property, the Town Board and police denied the Ferry District its property interest without notice or hearing. - Ultra Vires Acts by Town Board:
The complaint argues the December Board resolution had no statutory basis—only the Ferry District Board (a separate public entity funded by ferry-district taxes) can authorize use of its real estate nypost.com. - Abuse of Power & Threats:
Officers allegedly threatened criminal sanctions against anyone attempting to enforce district ownership or retrieve personal effects, compounding the constitutional and state-law violations.
#FishersIsland, #SoutholdPolice, #PoliceSquatting, #PublicLand, #FerryDistrict, #UnconstitutionalSeizure, #PropertyRights, #PoliceAccountability, #LocalNews, #LegalBattle
Property & Community Context
- Fishers Island Ferry District operates boat service, a small airport (Elizabeth Field), and maintains essential services for the island’s ~400 year-round residents (swelling to ~2,000 in summer) en.wikipedia.org.
- 357 Whistler Avenue was renovated in 2023 as permitted staff housing, complete with new HVAC, asbestos abatement, and ADA-compliant entryways. District officials invested over $450,000 in improvements.
- With the island accessible only by ferry or small plane, suitable on-island police quarters are vital—yet the dilapidated former barracks remain under renovation, and no alternative housing was formally offered to the Ferry District.
Voices from the Case
“These actions have not been seen in this country, if at all, in at least 200 years,”
— Plaintiffs’ Complaint, alleging unprecedented self-help eviction nypost.com.
“We remain committed to renovating our long-vacant barracks so officers have proper accommodations,”
— Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski (declined further comment) nypost.com.
What’s Next
- Pre-Motion Conference (June 25): Parties will outline proposed motions (e.g., for a preliminary injunction to oust the officers).
- Potential Injunction Hearing: If granted, the court could order the police to vacate immediately, restoring the property to district control.
- Long-Term Impact: A decision will clarify the limits of municipal and law-enforcement authority over independently governed public districts—and set a precedent for how rural and island communities balance policing needs with property rights.
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