Precinct downgrades spur critics' campaigns

A plan to downgrade four Nassau police precincts has sparked a barrage of ads, mailings and automated calls as law enforcement unions and County Executive Edward Mangano battle over the issue.

Mangano says his precinct realignment would save the county $20 million per year by shedding more than 100 administrative jobs. The unions, however, say the precinct reorganization will reduce services and may lead to an increase in crime.

Advertisements harshly critical of the precinct realignment, sponsored by the Police Benevolent Association, Superior Officers Association and Detectives' Association, began appearing on television, radio and local newspapers last week. The plan "can only lead to longer response times and less police in our neighborhoods," the radio ads state.

The unions also created a website -- Saveourprecincts.com -- and have a half-dozen billboard trucks circulating in the county.

"There's just not enough information out there about this plan," said PBA president James Carver. "And we should not be voting on it until we have all the answers."

Mangano's office has been aggressive in promoting the proposal to transform four precincts into community policing centers staffed around the clock by two officers. The centers also would house specialized policing units such as the robbery squad but would not handle criminal processing.

The county sent a mailing to residents this week claiming to provide the "full truth" on the plan, noting that all 177 police cars will remain in their existing locations.

Earlier this month, the county paid a contractor for automated telephone calls alerting residents to the plan. "We are correcting widespread misinformation and special interest fear-mongering from the other side," Mangano said in an interview last week.

The administration also has used social media to promote the plan on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and through an alert sent on the new "Nassau Now" iPhone app.

Senior administration officials have spoken at 25 community meetings since the plan was rolled out in January and last week hosted a telephone town hall in which 13,000 residents participated, Mangano said.

The police unions, meanwhile, took to the airwaves last week with 30-second television ads on CNN, ESPN, MSG and the Oprah Winfrey Network, Carver said. Radio spots have appeared on 1010 WINS, WFAN, Z-100, K-JOY and ESPN Radio, he said. Advertisements have also appeared on news websites, including newsday.com.

Carver declined to disclose the cost of the campaign. Nassau spent "less than the cost of one stamp per household," according to Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin. "Union bosses have millions at their disposal to use in ad campaigns and scare tactics," he said.

Labor also is promoting an online petition protesting the plan -- more than 3,000 people have signed it -- and is considering making automatic calls to residents this week, Carver said.

The 19-member county legislature is scheduled to vote on Mangano's proposal on Feb. 27.