County exec presents new vision for precinct policing

County Executive Edward Mangano last week announced a sweeping plan to restructure Nassau County’s policing strategy by taking advantage of the latest technology and communications to trim some $20 million in costs through cuts and reorganization.

The first thing many in Baldwin wondered, in the wake of the announcement, was how the changes would affect the long-promised construction of a new 1st Precinct building across the street from the existing station. In a conversation with the Herald last week, Mangano characterized the change in plans as a “scaling back,” but insisted that the level of police protection would remain unchanged.

“The future of the 1st Precinct is to become a community policing center,” Mangano said. “The plan to build will go ahead, but be scaled back a little. The second floor will possibly be deleted, and we’re going to get together with the community to help discuss how the facility can best be used.”

Mangano explained that the current 1st Precinct employs nearly 40 officers in an administrative capacity who are not used on the street. “If you’re in Baldwin and you call 911 right now, that call doesn’t go through the 1st Precinct,” said Mangano’s aide Brian Nevin. “Those calls go to New Cassel and then are routed to the patrol cars.”

Mangano and his staffers have been quick to point out throughout the process of publicizing the proposal that in neighborhoods where precincts will be transformed into “community policing centers” — the 5th Precinct, in Elmont, the 6th, in Manhasset, and the 8th, in Levittown, as well as the new Baldwin facility — the on-the-ground police presence will be unaltered. Although Mangano has estimated that the proposed changes will cut 95 officers and 13 civilians, he insists that the county’s 177 patrol cars will stay in their current neighborhoods.

Mangano said he believes his plan will save money by bringing police forces in line with modern technology, which gives the tools of police work much greater range. In a sense, he indicated last week, computers have turned squad cars into moving command centers, and cops rarely even go to the precinct to switch shifts.

If passed by the County Legislature, the plan would be the county’s first realignment of precinct buildings in more than 40 years. But the reimagining of security services has drawn criticism from several quarters. The Nassau Policemen’s Benevolent Association held a rally last week at which Wayne Hartmann, its treasurer, insisted that having a police station is an imperative for Nassau County communities.

“What they’re missing in all of this,” Hartmann said, “is that when you close a precinct, you go under the assumption that no one goes to the precinct other than to pick up accident reports.”

Nassau County PBA President James Carver also spoke at the rally. “When you start taking away the symbol of what a safe neighborhood is,” he said, “you’re showing everyone that you’ve given up.”

County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Elmont), who helped organize the rally, appeared along with fellow Democrats Joseph Scannell, Wayne Wink Jr., Dave Denenberg and Kevan Abrahams. The contingent agreed with the PBA, saying that Mangano’s plan threatens the integrity of the county police force and would negatively affect crime rates.

Scannell scheduled a community meeting at the Baldwin Public Library on Feb. 7 to discuss the ramifications of the proposed changes. Mangano’s office told the Herald that residents who are interested in contributing to the conversation on how to maximize the use of Baldwin’s community policing facility should call (516) 571-6000 and leave their contact information.

Jackie Nash contributed to this story.