COMMUNITY NEWS

Introducing the POP cops

East Meadowites meet new problem-oriented police officers

Posted

Problem-oriented police are back, and the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves want everyone to know it.

Gonsalves, an East Meadowite and the presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature, hosted a forum at the East Meadow Public Library last week to introduce community members to the POP cops from the 1st and 3rd precincts, which cover different portions of East Meadow and Salisbury. The event was held in conjunction with the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations.

“I thought it important that we met the POP cops sooner, rather than later,” Gonsalves said. She explained that, two years ago, the POP units were lost because of budget cuts. But because county finances have recovered enough, and enrollment in the Police Academy is high enough, the jobs have been mostly restored.

“There are two [POP cops] in each precinct,” she said. “The goal is six, but I’ll settle for four.”

Gonsalves noted that another class was coming into the academy in April or May. “The more that come up, the more we can get,” she said. 

Inspector Daniel Flanagan, commanding officer of the 1st Precinct, joined Gonsalves and fielded questions from the audience about crime and quality of life issues. He also explained what the duties of the POP cops are.

Flanagan said there are two kinds of officers. The first type, a patrol officer, responds to emergencies. The POP cops, however, respond to recurring issues, such as people running stop signs.

“These can’t be addressed in a timely fashion if they [officers] are responding to emergencies,” Flanagan said. He said POP cops could take time to work with other county departments and the Town of Hempstead to resolve problems.

“We’re glad to have them back,” Flanagan said. “They’re a great tool.”

Deputy Inspector Alan Hirsch, deputy commander of the 3rd Precinct, also said he was pleased that the POP units have been reinstituted. “We’re as happy as you are to have the POP cops back,” he said. 

Page 1 / 3