EDITORIAL: Limits needed on pay for Nassau cops

Cops on the beat in Nassau County today might notice a shift in the public mood. People are growing increasingly uneasy with the big salaries and $600,000-plus retirement payouts being offered to police brass.

Sure, this is a one-time incentive program to induce cops to retire. Just like the one-time-only offer last year, from then-County Executive Thomas Suozzi. This year, the package got richer, with payouts averaging about $100,000 more per person. We don't begrudge individuals their retirement pay; it's the system that's broken.

County Executive Edward Mangano argues that he had to sweeten the package to induce enough retirements, after the 200 who left the police force in 2009. He says the 2010 buyout of 125 people will save $20 million a year and will eventually pay for itself.

That's a good argument, but it's only true if Mangano manages aggressively. He must keep a lid on overtime and convince the police unions to eliminate some of these administrative posts. Otherwise, people will be promoted and Nassau will be stuck with the big salaries and the debt payments.

There was a tough alternative Mangano could have chosen: demote some officers to lower-paying jobs and let them leave on their own. At salaries of $168,000 to $225,000, Nassau is very generous. Then, the county must hand over even more to get them to leave. We need a stopper for this drain. hN