Nassau GOP OKs new precinct plan as negotiations continue

As County Executive Edward Mangano negotiated Monday with Nassau's police unions over details of a precinct realignment plan, Republican legislators authorized the police commissioner to cut the number of county precincts from eight to four.

The 10-9 vote broke along party lines, with the nine Democrats objecting that the administration had not shown that the plan would save money or that turning four precincts into "community policing centers" staffed by two officers would not jeopardize public safety. They also questioned why the legislators would vote 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 agree with Commissioner [Thomas] Dale that the number of precincts in Nassau County should be four."

The resolution approved by the Republican lawmakers says simply, "the commissioner of police is hereby authorized to divide the police district into four precincts as he deems necessary."

It does not mention the community policing centers or their proposed staffing, or set a timeline for steps to be taken.