Nassau panels to vote on precinct plan

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's plan to realign the county's eight police precincts faces its first test Monday as it comes before three legislative committees for a vote.

The Rules, Finance and Public Safety committees will vote on the proposal after a public hearing and a presentation by Police Commissioner Thomas Dale and Deputy County Executive Rob Walker. Republican legislators abruptly recessed a committee meeting last Monday on the realignment plan after a heated debate with Democratic lawmakers.

With the GOP holding a 4-3 advantage in each committee, both sides expect the proposal to pass along party lines. The 19-member legislature, where Republicans hold a 10-9 edge, is expected to vote on the realignment on Feb. 27.

Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said administration officials were "unprepared" at last week's meeting to answer questions about the plan, but he expects a more thorough examination at Monday's hearing. "The administration must make its case that this plan will not affect public safety," Schmitt said.

Democrats have pledged to vote against the plan. "They [Republicans] are playing politics with public safety," said Legis. Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin), ranking member of the Public Safety Committee. "That's not fair and the public deserves better."

Mangano said administration officials have spoken at dozens of public meetings the past two weeks to outline his proposal and to correct "misinformation" and "special interest fearmongering" by opponents. The county also hosted a telephone town hall in which 13,000 residents participated, he said.

The reorganization calls for four police precincts -- the First in Baldwin, the Fifth in Elmont, the Sixth in Manhasset and the Eighth in Levittown -- to become community policing centers staffed round the clock by two officers.

They would not handle criminal processing or administrative paperwork, although residents could pick up accident reports and gather in community meeting rooms.

The Sixth Precinct building also would house the department's highway patrol bureau while the other three community policing centers would be home to special operations units, including the robbery squad, Mangano said.

The remaining precincts would be the Second in Woodbury, the Third in Williston Park, the Fourth in Hewlett and the Seventh in Seaford, to be renamed the First.

In response to concerns raised at last week's legislative hearing, Mangano said the police department will expand the arrest processing center at its Mineola headquarters to handle overflow from the precincts.

Mangano said his plan would save the county $20 million, mostly by eliminating more than 100 jobs. However, the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Budget Review says the savings may amount only to about $12 million.

Officials expect the law enforcement jobs to be eliminated through retirement or attrition, but Mangano has not ruled out laying off officers.

Additionally, 48 officers would be reassigned from desk jobs to neighborhood crime prevention and the same 177 police cars will continue to patrol neighborhoods, Mangano said.

PRECINCT HEARING

The Nassau County Legislature's Rules, Finance and Public Safety committees will hold a public hearing Monday on the proposed police realignment of county police precincts.

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola