Krumpter: No Nassau cop layoffs expected

Nassau's top police official said Wednesday he does not expect to lay off any cops as a result of the planned closure of two precincts, and that job cuts instead would come through attrition.

The precinct closure plan, released by acting Commissioner Thomas Krumpter at a legislative hearing in Mineola, targets 81 officers and employees who now perform administrative duties.

But Krumpter said the department already has identified 27 vacant jobs that won't be filled; the remaining reductions will come from officers retiring or resigning voluntarily by the second quarter of 2012, when the precinct plan is scheduled to be implemented, he said. No patrol officers would be laid off, he said.

He also announced plans to realign the boundaries of all precincts, but he declined to identify those that would close, saying an analysis is not complete. Closing two precincts, he said, would save the county $15 million.

But Democratic lawmakers complained about a lack of information about the plan and said the precinct closures could cause crime to increase. "There is much to fear," Legis. Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) said. "At the end of the day, public safety will be jeopardized."

But Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said it makes little difference which precincts will close because few residents visit the buildings. "If [precincts] are further away, they are further away," he said.

Democrats also complained that the budget makes cuts to units devoted to heroin reduction, DWI and Problem Oriented Policing, a program where officers work with residents to address neighborhood concerns. Krumpter said 58 officers in specialized units would be redeployed to patrol duties, in part to reduce overall police overtime. Addressing lawmakers' concerns about the heroin task force, Krumpter noted that the group now is focused more on prescription drug abuse, as heroin use has shown signs of decline.

But Police Benevolent Association president James Carver said patrol officers would have to pick up the work of specialized units, reducing the time they can devote to patrol duties.

Also at the hearing Wednesday, lawmakers heard testimony about other departmental budgets including:

The Correctional Center, which the Sheriff's Department operates, would see its budget cut by $5.7 million, or 3.8 percent compared to 2011. Sheriff Michael Sposato said the savings will be achieved by overtime cuts and unfilled vacancies.

Parks, Recreation and Museums Department would get a 9 percent budget increase, an additional $1.9 million, as it absorbs maintenance workers from the Public Works.

Public Works Department would see its budget cut by $7.8 million, or almost 9 percent.

Also Wednesday, protesters demanded the legislature schedule a hearing on a county plan to turn over Long Island Bus to a private operator next year. Schmitt said a hearing would be scheduled, but not until after a budget was passed.