Nassau police help pol fix flat tire

Although Nassau legislative Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt has been at odds with the county's police, they responded when he called last week. After driving home the county car assigned to the legislative majority, the Massapequa Republican came out of his house Wednesday to find a flat tire. "The police came and fixed it," said Schmitt spokesman Ed Ward. "It's not a big deal." Ward said the 2003 vehicle is generally used as a pool car by the Republicans' photographers. But their only full-time staffer was on vacation.

Schmitt was found in contempt of court, at the Nassau PBA's request, for disclosing confidential information about a police misconduct probe.-- Celeste Hadrick