Nassau 3rd, 6th precinct mergers take effect

The merger between the Nassau police Sixth Precinct in Manhasset and Third Precinct in Williston Park goes into effect Monday -- part of an ongoing police reorganization plan aimed at cutting costs.

A reduced staff of 10 officers on weekdays, and two officers on weekends and nights, will administer the former Sixth Precinct, which is being reshaped into a community policing center where residents can pick up accident reports and file complaints. The Third Precinct will be tasked with processing arrests and patrolling the former Sixth Precinct's communities.

The consolidation of the county's eight precincts to four is part of County Executive Edward Mangano's plan to save about $18.5 million to $23.3 million annually. He has said the savings will be achieved in part by moving some 48 officers from administrative positions to street duty.

In May, the Second Precinct in Woodbury took over duties of the Eighth Precinct in Levittown. Come September, the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett will assume the policing of the Fifth Precinct in Elmont, and in November the Seventh Precinct in Seaford will take over duties of the First Precinct in Baldwin and be renamed the First Precinct.

Residents, union leaders and elected officials have said the changes may delay responses and impact public safety. "The officers responding may not even know the area," said East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, whose village is in the former Sixth Precinct. "GPS is only so good; when it comes to response time you have to know the area."

Nassau officials said patrol units will remain unchanged and that changes will go unnoticed.