Mangano, detectives reach staffing deal

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has struck a new minimum-staffing agreement with the police detective union so that three detectives will now start every tour at targeted county precincts.

Mangano said he expects the move to save money, at a time when a lawsuit challenging a recent state takeover of Nassau's finances is before a judge.

Beginning Friday, 17 detectives from the Juvenile Aid Bureau and just-closed police crime lab will be redeployed so that three detectives will now start every tour at the First, Third and Sixth precincts, instead of the usual two.

While the Superior Officers Association and Police Benevolent Association have minimum staffing in their contracts, the Detectives Association has not had a similar requirement. Unions usually want minimum manning, which they say ensures enough officers are available at all times to protect the public.

Management, however, generally argues for the flexibility to make the decision as to where and when to assign officers in order to save money and improve efficiency.

Mangano said the detectives' deal had been in the works for weeks and has no connection with the Nassau Interim Finance Authority's decision in January to take control of the county's finances. He also said the deal did not emerge from a meeting he called with all county union leaders Wednesday night.

Mangano declined to comment on the meeting because of the continuing litigation with NIFA. Mangano is suing to stop the state agency's takeover. A Supreme Court judge in Mineola stayed NIFA from taking any action until he issues his decision, expected shortly.

Union leaders say Mangano, who has been seeking concessions for months, again asked for givebacks on Wednesday. Some of the union leaders say they believe Mangano wanted to present concessions to the judge by Friday as part of an effort to settle the suit.

Superior Officers Association president Gary Learned said, "If their intent was to convince NIFA to make a settlement on Friday . . . based on union concessions, the process for making those concessions is lengthy. It takes months. . . . I can't see how by Friday, NIFA is convinced" to settle.

Mangano said he has not signed a memorandum of agreement with the detectives' union, which would require county legislative approval. Instead, he said the minimum-manning plan will be a six-month pilot that he expects will save money and provide additional police to fight gangs and drugs in parts of Hempstead, Uniondale, Roosevelt and Freeport.

An early-retirement program cut the force last year by 125 officers, including 21 detectives. By not replacing them and reassigning the remaining detectives, Mangano estimates he can save $4.4 million.

But Learned said his members, who supervise the detective squads, are concerned that the new staffing mandate may push up overtime while they are under orders to cut those costs.

Detectives Association president Tom Willdigg could not be reached for comment.