PBA prez cheers reopening of 5th Precinct

Nassau County Police P.B.A President James Carver met with the media on Monday to discuss the reopening of the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct.

“I’m very happy they’ve undone the merger and will be reopening the precinct,” Carver said. “The 5th Precinct holds a special place. It’s the first precinct you pass entering Nassau County and it really sends a message that we’re here and we’re serious about public safety here in Nassau County.”

Nassau County legislators announced earlier this month that the 5th Precinct, housed on Dutch Broadway in Elmont, would reopen in early 2015 after merging with the 4th Precinct in 2012. The 5th Precinct covers Elmont, Franklin Square, Garden City South, Lakeview, Lynbrook, Malverne, South Floral Park, Valley Stream and West Hempstead. When it reopens, the 5th Precinct will once again be a fully functional headquarters, staffed with a commanding officer, a deputy commanding officer and patrol supervisors to manage its officers.

Carver also said while there are no plans as of yet to reopen the 6th or 8th Precincts, located in Manhasset and Levittown, respectively, he hoped that would change soon.

“We hope that lawmakers will continue to take public safety seriously,” Carver said, “and keep evaluating the possibility that those precincts can on day open again... We will certainly be an active part of the process of evaluating the closed precincts, but its crucial that everyone is part of the process, including police, citizens and lawmakers.”

Carver also confirmed that the 1st and 7th Precincts would not be closed or merged and said he believes reopening all of Long Island’s eight precincts is the best thing for residents.

“We have said for a long time now that all eight precincts need to be opened, and we need to keep evaluating whether the other precincts can be reopened,” Carver said. “This is all part of a process of rebuilding. We’ve had other programs close down, and we’re down to 2,300 officers from 2,700 in 2009. But this is a step in a very positive direction.”