Lawmakers yet to discuss Thomas Krumpter nod for top cop

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano says he hasn’t formally nominated acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter as top cop — even though he said he would nearly five months ago — because he hasn’t met with legislators tasked with voting on the appointment.

“I’d like to get an understanding of the legislature’s concerns, if there are any,” Mangano said this week. “I haven’t had that conversation.”

Mangano announced in November that Krumpter was his pick to lead the 2,356-member department, and he would forward his nomination to the legislature, which has the final say on commissioner-level appointments.

In response to questions about why Krumpter’s nomination has not moved ahead, Mangano, a Republican, said this week that he has no sense of Krumpter’s support in the GOP-dominated legislature and wants to gauge reaction before formally nominating him.

“I just haven’t had an opportunity to discuss it with the presiding officer,” said Mangano, referring to Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). “It’s just, we’ve been dealing with capital plans, capital issues . . . ”

Mangano denied that his support for Krumpter had wavered. “He’s done a great job,” Mangano said.

Gonsalves said in a brief interview that she, too, is waiting to talk to Mangano. “He has not discussed it with me and I will tell you right now that until he does, I really can’t even bring it to my caucus.”

Whether Krumpter has enough votes in the 12-member GOP caucus to be confirmed is unknown, she said, as she hasn’t polled her colleagues. The 19-member body has seven Democrats.

Krumpter, 49, who has worked at the department for 23 years, has held the acting post since January 2014.

He’s led the department through historic crime lows but faced criticism over his controversial precinct consolidation plan.

Overall crime is down 26 percent since 2009, department statistics show, although recent spikes in the number of residential burglaries, street robberies and felony assaults have fueled community calls for the reopening of the merged Sixth Precinct, which Krumpter has resisted.

If approved, Krumpter’s $237,265 annual pay — under his civil service title of first deputy commissioner — would fall to $175,000 because the commissioner pay is set by the county executive, officials said.

Krumpter says he’s unfazed by the delay.

“I’m not frustrated at all,” Krumpter said. “I love working at the Nassau County Police Department. . . . I’ll serve in whatever capacity that the county executive feels is appropriate, and I’m anxiously awaiting the time where he feels it’s appropriate that he moves forward.”

In the months since he announced Krumpter as his choice, the county executive has weathered a series of political storms, including the corruption conviction of former state Sen. Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos, whose company was awarded a $12 million county contract. And recent headlines were dominated by allegations of a sexting scandal between Mangano and a public relations executive who received a pair of no-bid county contracts. Police investigated, and ultimately determined it was a hoax.

Kevan Abrahams, the legislature’s Democratic minority leader, said his caucus looks forward to questioning Krumpter on policy decisions at a hearing, including precinct closures, cuts to POP cops and overtime management.

“We’ve been left in the dark, pretty much like the public,” said Abrahams (D-Freeport). “I do know there are reservations throughout out my caucus on his confirmation.”

Brian Hoesl, president of the police department’s 340-member Superior Officers Association, said the force needs permanent leadership. “It’s ridiculous that they’ve been going on two years now, and we don’t have a full-time commissioner . . . If this is their guy, then they ought to put it to a vote and let the chips fall where they are.”

Mangano, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be in a rush.

“I don’t have a timeline,” he said. “But I’ll keep you posted.”

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.