Interim Nassau police commissioner open to permanent appointment

Nassau's recently appointed interim police commissioner Wednesday indicated interest in keeping the commissioner post, though County Executive Edward Mangano has said he's looking for an outsider.

Victor Politi, who served as Mangano's deputy county executive for public safety until he was made acting commissioner last week after the firing of former Commissioner Thomas Dale, said, "It would be an honor to serve as the commissioner," when asked if he was interested in the top job.

Politi, a physician and former New York City police officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant in the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit, spoke briefly Wednesday afternoon in his new office in police headquarters. Mangano has said he intends to hire a "disciplinarian" from outside the department. Politi oversaw the police department in his deputy county executive role.

When Politi was asked whether he had let Mangano know he was interested in the job, a police department spokesman interjected and declined to comment on the new commissioner's behalf.

Mangano could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Dale resigned last week after prosecutors alleged he had ordered officers to arrest a witness in a politically charged election-year case.

James Carver, president of the Nassau Police Benevolent Association, has called on Mangano to hire from within the department.

Carver and other union officials have said it hurts morale when top brass in the department are passed and the commissioner post goes to an outsider, which has happened twice in Nassau -- Dale and James Lawrence were both former NYPD chiefs before holding the top job in Nassau.

Carver did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday.