Report: Nassau police plan may save less

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's police reorganization plan would save a net of $12.2 million this year -- not the $20 million claimed by the administration -- and could save even less, the legislature's budget office has reported.

The county legislature's nonpartisan Office of Budget Review said Friday that Nassau would save $19.2 million in salary and fringe benefits annually if Mangano eliminates the positions of 95 police officers and 13 civilian police employees as planned. But since the plan would not be in place for the first three months of 2012 and some borrowing would have to be done, the savings would only be $12.2 million.

Mangano had said that his plan would save $20 million annually. But the savings would occur only if the county offers a retirement incentive program and higher-paid officers participate, the office warned. If officers have to be laid off, the savings would be further decreased, it found.

Mangano's precinct reorganization would downgrade four of the county's eight precincts to "community policing centers" staffed by two officers round the clock.

Police unions say the plan will compromise public safety. But Mangano stresses that he would reassign 48 desk cops to neighborhood crime prevention and maintain the same number of patrol cars in all neighborhoods.

Mangano's press secretary Katie Grilli-Robles said in a statement, "While we have not conducted a complete review of the [Budget Review Office] report, the $19.2 million annualized projected savings is consistent with the Nassau County Police Department projected savings of up to $20 million."

But Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) said, "Instead of saving $20 million, it shows at best $12 million without counting incentive pay. With incentive pay, there's no savings. So we've compromised public safety for no savings."