Police chaplain says there are not enough Suffolk cops

For nearly four decades, the Rev. Edward Wisbauer, Suffolk police chaplain, has seen every horrible disaster that has befallen the county - murders, jet crashes, forest fires and metal-crunching car wrecks.

And every May, the veteran Episcopal minister, now 80, has spoken at the department's annual memorial services to honor police who have fallen in the line of duty and to comfort their families.

But Wisbauer, now chief of chaplains, created a huge stir at this year's ceremony in Yaphank last week, speaking out forcefully about the lack of police staffing - something no other departmental chief dare do.

And he did it right in front of grim-faced Commissioner Richard Dormer and seething gubernatorial candidate and County Executive Steve Levy, who sat silently while Wisbauer got a prolonged ovation lasting longer than two minutes.

In his remarks, witnesses said Wisbauer likened top department officials to good shepherds who need to protect their flock. Without naming names, he said the department is failing to protect its own officers, who are stretched too thin, and is jeopardizing the safety of the public.

He noted the department has not hired a class of new officers in three years and is 300 officers down. He also noted that top department brass have told him privately more officers are needed.

"He was like Martin Luther banging his list of concerns on the church door," said Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches). "And he was hitting every nail on the head."

Asked about Wisbauer's speech, Levy winced and declined to comment. However, late last week, Levy, in a prepared statement, said, "We found it to be highly inappropriate to be so political on such a solemn occasion."

Mark Smith, a Levy spokesman, added, "His comments overlooked the fact that total crime is down 20 percent since the county executive took office and there is no evidence to suggest that more officers have died in the line of duty in this administration than in previous decades."

Those who have long known Wisbauer say he was not trying to be partisan.

"I don't think he was trying to be a wiseguy. He's the most sincere person you'd ever run into and he's very fond of Commissioner Dormer," said Smithtown Town Board member Robert Creighton, himself a former police commissioner. "But he sees himself as a shepherd and that's where he was coming from . . . He was totally appropriate."

Wisbauer's remarks follow years of wrangling between Levy and lawmakers over police hiring. Lawmakers put money in the 2010 budget to hire 200 new officers, but Levy so far has agreed to add only 70 - just enough to replace those who will retire this year without addressing past attrition. Levy has proposed instead hiring more officers if lawmakers agree to his latest fiscal plan.

Levy maintains cost-saving redeployments, civilianization, and deputy sheriffs taking over highway patrols all have increased police coverage. Critics say he's playing a shell game to keep patrol cars filled while stripping special units, such as COPE, which does community policing.

"If any of us electeds had made the comments, it would have been inappropriate," said Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook). "But he's coming from . . . a more neutral perspective and does not have an ax to grind. I just think he's legitimately concerned."

Wisbauer's remarks indirectly also appear to vindicate Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), who claimed Dormer privately told him he needed more staffing, something the commissioner denied.

"Kudos to the chaplain for speaking out," Cooper said. "Of course, he has a powerful ally on his side."