GOP lawmakers halt meeting on precinct plan

Nassau Republican lawmakers Monday abruptly recessed a committee meeting on County Executive Edward Mangano's proposed realignment of the county's eight police precincts -- over loud objections of Democratic lawmakers.

Legis. Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), chairman of the public safety committee, said the meeting will resume next week at a public hearing into the plan to downgrade four precincts into "community policing centers."

As Dunne left the legislative chamber in Mineola, Democrats protested that they still had questions.

Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) and Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) also called for an investigation into robocalls they said Mangano has been using to tout his plan with residents.

Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said he had gotten calls at both his home and legislative office.

Mangano later dismissed the complaints, saying the call "alerts the public," to his plan to change the precincts.

He said the administration has been in contact with community groups, "and we will continue to be as transparent as possible. . . . This is a plan that protects the public safety as well as the taxpayer's wallet."

Last week, Mangano proposed a reorganization of the police department that would realign the county's eight precincts and save as much as $20 million annually by cutting 100 administrative jobs, many of them held by police officers.

Mangano would turn four station houses into community policing centers, staffed by two officers each around the clock, and reassign 48 officers from desk jobs to neighborhood crime prevention.

The centers would not handle administrative paperwork and criminal processing. Residents could pick up accident reports there and the buildings would have community meeting rooms.

The end of the committee meeting Monday brought boos from the chamber, which had been packed with residents, community leaders and police.

Nearly two dozen people spoke out against the proposed downgrading of the First Precinct in Baldwin, Fifth in Elmont and the Sixth in Manhasset. Speakers did not address the Eighth Precinct in Levittown, which is also slated to become a community policing center.

Elmont resident Sylmerris Khan said she appeared on behalf of her family and neighbors, who are worried about the Fifth Precinct. "To decrease our precincts is not acceptable," she said.

Members of the Police Benevolent Association and community activists rallied outside before the meeting and PBA president James Carver said the plan offers no improvements and less services.

Also Monday, the public safety and rules committees each voted 4-3 along party lines to confirm Mangano's nominee to head the police department, Thomas Dale. The full legislature will vote on the nomination in two weeks.

With Sid Cassese