Post by lionsden on Feb 4, 2012 15:26:47 GMT -5
www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/mangano-precinct-downgrades-alarm-critics-1.3503348
Mangano precinct downgrades alarm critics
February 3, 2012 by CELESTE HADRICK / celeste.hadrick@newsday.com
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's police reorganization plan would downgrade two of the county's three busiest precincts, raising concerns about public safety among some local lawmakers and police warnings about overcrowding at the remaining station houses.
Nassau crime statistics show the Fifth Precinct in Elmont and the First Precinct in Baldwin, which would become "community policing centers," rank second and third among Nassau's eight precincts in terms of total crime reported.
The Third Precinct in Williston Park, which would remain a full-fledged precinct, has the highest reported crime rate.
"Why are we looking to close one of the busiest precincts?" asked Hempstead Town Board member James Darcy, a Republican whose district includes the Fifth Precinct. "From what I understand some of the precincts that are remaining open are much less busy than the Fifth and I'm very concerned about what effect that might have on police service."
County Legis. Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) said, "It doesn't make any sense by a public safety standard to close the busiest precincts. The people in my district are very concerned."
Mangano aide Brian Nevin responded that all 177 police patrols will remain in their current neighborhoods, saying that cops sitting behind desks in precinct houses "do not make any neighborhood safer than it already is." He said the precinct revamp was based on caseloads and geography.
Facing a $310 million deficit, Mangano hopes to save $20 million by cutting 100 administrative positions, assigning 48 desk cops to neighborhood crime prevention and turning four of the eight precinct buildings into community centers staffed by two officers each. The community centers will provide accident reports but will not process arrests or handle administrative duties.
Suspects arrested in the current Fifth Precinct, which runs along the Queens border and includes Elmont, Franklin Square, Lakeview, Valley Stream and West Hempstead, would be processed at Hewlett's Fourth Precinct house, which now ranks seventh in reported crimes and would remain open.
The Seventh Precinct in Seaford, fourth-ranked in reported crime, would continue full operations, taking on processing of suspects arrested in the First Precinct, which includes Roosevelt, Merrick, Bellmore, Uniondale and South Hempstead.
Nassau crime statistics show that 30,607 total crimes were reported in Nassau in 2011, ranging from homicide to criminal mischief. Williston Park's Third Precinct reported the most -- 6,793. Elmont's Fifth Precinct recorded 5,724 while Baldwin's First Precinct reported 4,468. That top-three ranking continued for the first four weeks of this year.
Nassau Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont) said he believes the Fifth Precinct is the busiest, with many unreported crimes. "We have three major highways . . . which give criminals access to a quick getaway," he said. "We can't afford to lose this in our community."
Assemb. Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook) wrote Mangano this week, saying, "To close the First Precinct would have an adverse effect on the quality of life of those families, who reside in Baldwin."
Police union leaders warn that the Fourth and Seventh precincts do not have enough holding cells for the increased processing duties, particularly on weekends when gang members often are picked up.
Detectives Association president Glenn Ciccone said juvenile suspects cannot be processed without the presence of a parent, who may not have access to a car.
Nevin called it "ridiculous to suggest that residents should pay $20 million more a year in taxes to accommodate prisoner space concerns. However, the county will have plans in place to address this issue."
