Records: Nassau cops gave $600G to Dems

If traditionally pro-police Nassau Republicans appear ready to reorganize the force, they may see nearly 600,000 reasons to do so.

Nassau police unions gave more than $598,000 to the county Democratic Party and its county legislative candidates last year, records show, but only $15,900 to Nassau Republicans. In the four weeks before the November election, the Police Benevolent Association PAC gave $171,790 each to three Democratic candidates: Adam Moser, who lost; incumbent Joseph Scannell of Baldwin, who was re-elected, and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, who won an open seat. The PBA gave $1,300 in June to Republican Legis. John Ciotti of North Valley Stream, who lost.

Now PBA president James Carver alleges Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) "is compromising public safety to get even with the police unions." A Schmitt spokesman said lawmakers were assured "the new [precinct] plan has the same police coverage and saves $20 million."

-- Celeste Hadrick