5th Precinct POP officer transferred

Elmont and F.S. leaders question POP officer’s departure

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The Nassau County Police Department is transferring Sgt. Edward Grim -- the 5th Precinct's Problem Oriented Policing officer -- to assume other duties elsewhere.That has Elmont residents concerned and angry.

The move was precipitated by the county's ongoing budget woes. In certain parts of the county, POP officers are being redeployed to what officials deem more pressing assignments.Grim will now serve as a sector-car patrolman. His sudden departure came as a troubling surprise to Claudine Hall, of Elmont's East End Civic Association. Grim had acted as the police department's liaison with the local Neighborhood Watch Program."We are an upset community," Hall said. "It makes no sense as to why he was removed. He is a longtime, longstanding member of our community. He has helped us in so many ways."

Over the years, Grim has become such a beloved local figure that he was named the Belmont Stakes Parade's grand marshal last year.Richard Lebrun, a police department spokesman in Mineola, said that Grim's transfer was strictly a financial decision. He wasn't the only one. Fifty POP officers throughout the county were also transferred to new assignments, often to act as patrol officers.

"We have 2017 budgetary constraints," LeBrun said. He added that POP officers would likely return to their duties as community liaisons in the spring or summer. That is a critical time of year to have POP officers on duty, officials said, because students are off from school and can, at times, cause the type of mischief that requires the lighter touch of a liaison officer.  

Hall said that she planned to speak with NCPD officials about Grim's transfer. "I am asking Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter to reinstate him, bring him back to us," she said. Some of the officers who have worked on the unit are veterans like Grim, while others are fresh out of the police academy. Some are plainclothes officers. 

Grim attended as many community events as he could, Hall said. "Now that he's gone, he can't come to any of our meetings, go to the schools to help the kids or patrol the neighborhoods at night," she said. "He's a huge presence in Elmont. Everyone knows who he is. We all trust him. This is a total disrespect to us."

Grim declined to comment.

Heshem Khafaga, president of the Franklin Square Civic Patrol, has worked with Grim to keep the community safe. The patrol group has been around for more than 30 years, according to Khafaga."I'm not sure why they moved him, but I can say that the move is more damaging than helping," Khafaga said. "He knows the streets, the people, the gangs and the schools. I mean no disrespect, but Grim was the man for the job. He always jumped through hoops for us. We are also upset because we feel that this decision to transfer him was made without notifying anyone. It wouldn't have been great news, but we would have at least had time to process it."

Crime in Franklin Square and Elmont is under control, Lebrun insisted. "Crime levels across the board, including these communities, have gone down 8 percent in the past year," he said. "Over the last 20 days, it's gone down 20 percent."

The 50 POP officers who will be reassigned include 10 detectives, five supervisors and 35 officers. Lebrun stressed that, despite their transfer, safety would not be compromised.  He did not have an exact date when POP officers would return to their duties as community liaisons. "Our numbers will determine need for officer placement," he said. "There is no concern over lack of police presence or patrol vacancies."

Khafaga is not comforted by the police department's assurances. "Why would they take a seasoned person out, someone everyone already knows?" he said. "It doesn't serve any purpose, economically or in an operational sense. If it's out of a budgetary reason, it's the wrong move. It's not too late to remedy this."

Lebrun agreed that the POP units make valuable contributions to the communities they serve. "They do a phenomenal job, whether it's fielding interviews or apprehending criminals," he said. "We are not looking to deplete POP."