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Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association President John Jaronczyk (Feb. 3,...

Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association President John Jaronczyk (Feb. 3, 2012) Credit: Photo by Howard Schnapp

The Sheriff Officers Association is suing Nassau County in State Supreme Court, charging top county and correction officials have made three illegal appointments that should be overturned.

Capt. James Ford was named acting deputy undersheriff on March 31, and promoted to acting commissioner of correction May 12. That day, Capt. Dennis Hesse was promoted to acting deputy undersheriff. Last Wednesday, correction officer Vincente Valente Sr. was jumped five grades to deputy undersheriff.

"These appointments . . . are inappropriate and illegal," said John Jaronczyk, president of the 1,000-plus member union. He said the county recently demoted 30 corporals and reduced the number of jail supervisors.

Jaronczyk said the county charter does not allow employees in civil service titles such as correction officer and captain to serve in "acting" positions. The union filed suit last week.

In response, County Executive Edward Mangano said the State Commission of Correction directed Nassau to fill the supervisory positions as a condition for continuing to house inmates from Suffolk, for fees. "The union is trying to diminish the number of individuals who discipline employees and to thwart the county's efforts to generate millions of dollars in revenue that help hold the line on property taxes," he said.

Nassau Civil Service Commissioner Karl Kampe, who is named, along with Mangano and Sheriff Michael Sposato, as a respondent, confirmed that the commission "does not recognize 'acting' titles," then referred questions to County Attorney John Ciampoli.

Ciampoli called the appointments "appropriate."

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