Residents to work with local precincts

The 4th and 5th precincts are in the beginning stages of starting community councils that would bring issues that are important to residents directly to the police officers who patrol their streets.

Twelve people will comprise each council and act as the voice of their community. Local civic leaders first floated the idea in August. They spoke with Acting Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, who agreed that more community involvement is a good thing, according to Inspector James Bartsherer, commander of the 5th Precinct. Precinct commanders select the community liaisons, many of who are active in their communities and have contacted police in the past regarding police issues.

“The precinct can hear from a few representatives of the community what the concerns are and be instrumental in formulating ideas and programs in addressing those concerns,” said Bartsherer. “This is just a way of trying to formulate a collaborative effort with the community.”

Though no one reason was given for the formation of the council, Inspector Bartsherer agreed that more community involvement is necessary given the recent national protests against killings by police following the deadly incidents in Staten Island and Chicago.

Nassau County reinstituted its problem oriented policing unit in every precinct in November. That unit deals directly with citizens’ concerns and responds to incidents that aren’t emergencies.

“Some of that must have been a factor,” said Bartsherer. “What the department always does is reassess how things are with the community.”

The logistics of the councils are still being ironed out, Bartsherer said, but he believed that they would meet every other month and include community leaders and concerned residents. It is Bartsherer’s hope that his council will be up and running in a few months.

One community leader contacted by Bartsherer was David Sabitino, the director of operations for the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol. It is Sabitino’s wish that the 5th’s council introduce more people to who the precinct’s officers are. By having a more open and consistent conversation with local law enforcement, people will feel more secure, he reasoned.

“How do we get people to still feel like their police is working for them?” Sabitino said. “They want to know that they can trust and have faith that police will be there when they need them.”

One way to ensure some facetime is to have officers attend meetings and functions at schools and civic association meetings. Some officers are already active in that way: Officer Rita Bopp-Carroll attended the East End Civic Association meeting on Dec. 1.

“Wherever we can facilitate that and get police officers out into the neighborhood more frequently, outside of their patrol car,” Sabatino said, “that would be a goal of mine.”