Major crime down more than 10%: Nassau

Nassau County is touting a more than 10 percent drop in major crime between 2010 and 2009.

The police department, at a news conference Tuesday morning, said crime in such categories as murder, rape and theft was down - by 10.87 percent.

"The most basic and perhaps the most important responsibility of government is to protect its citizens," Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, said crediting in part the department's rank-and-file officers for the drop.

Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey attributed the improvements also to the department's use of updated computer technology.