GOP pols OK precinct plan, talks continue

Republican legislators Monday authorized the Nassau police commissioner to cut the number of police precincts from eight to four, even as County Executive Edward Mangano negotiated with law enforcement unions over details of the reorganization plan.

The 10-9 vote broke along party lines, with the legislature's nine Democrats objecting that the administration had not shown the plan would save money or that public safety would not be jeopardized by turning four precincts into "community policing centers" staffed by two officers around the clock. They also questioned why legislators were voting on a plan that was still being negotiated.

Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) responded, "Those discussions that are going on as we speak are discussions about how to handle the community policing centers after the precincts are closed. Those discussions have nothing to do with the plan that is in front of us.

"The plan is no more and no less than agreeing with Commissioner [Thomas] Dale that the number of precincts in Nassau County should be four," Schmitt said as he cast the final vote in favor of the plan.

As Republicans cast "yes" votes, one by one, the members of the raucous audience screamed "traitor" and "just say no." At one point Schmitt became engaged in a shouting match with two residents.

The most dramatic scene occurred as Legis. Joseph Belesi (R-Farmingdale), a retired Nassau Police sergeant, cast his vote. With tears in his eyes, Belesi quietly said, "I vote yes. I vote aye," and then stood up and walked somberly out of the chamber to catcalls and hisses. One audience member screamed: "You are a coward."

Although the resolution approved by Republican lawmakers refers to using the downsized precinct houses as community policing centers, it directs simply that "the commissioner of police is hereby authorized to divide the police district into four precincts as he deems necessary."

Mangano said the plan would begin to be implemented in 30 days. Dale testified two precincts would be merged into one every two months, with the final merger being Elmont's Fifth District into Hewlett's Fourth District.

Mangano and Dale have said the county would save as much as $20 million by eliminating about 100 administrative jobs and reassigning 48 desk cops to neighborhood crime prevention. They also said all 177 patrol cars would continue to patrol the same communities.

But the proposal sparked a firestorm as Democrats and police unions argued there will be little savings and the plan will increase response times while overcrowding remaining precincts. They also said that without a written agreement, Mangano could reduce the number of patrols at any time.

After the vote, Mangano said in a statement, "I commend the county legislature for approving this public safety plan that adds more police officers to our community and protects residents from a property tax hike."

But Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said, "Today exemplified the worst incompetence we have seen out of the Mangano administration with their ever-changing plan that would alter the course of public safety in Nassau County and the worst arrogance we have seen out of the Republican majority when they blindly voted to approve it."

PBA president James Carver said, "No matter how rational of an argument the unions and the public made to delay the vote on the precinct closures, the Republican majority decided to vote for closing the precincts with very little details on how it would be implemented."

Later, Democrats blocked a full vote in the legislature on a police retirement incentive, a key component of Mangano's plan. The measure now will be voted on March 19. Lawmakers heard from about a dozen speakers, all opposed. Sue Auriemma, representing the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, presented lawmakers with 5,244 signatures on petitions against it.

Milagros Vicente, of Valley Stream, who gave legislators 754 signatures against the plan three weeks ago, said she was submitting another 2,500 signatures opposed to closing Elmont's Fifth Precinct, the county's second busiest. "The residents are saying do not pass this. Listen to us," she said.