Nassau PBA: County made politically motivated cuts

The head of Nassau's largest police union charged yesterday that the county police administration, in a drive to cut overtime costs, has made several areas -- including three major shopping centers -- more vulnerable to crime.

Gary Dela Raba, president of the 2000-plus member Nassau Police Benevoloent Association, said what was initially the department's goal of reducing overtime 25 percent has since become a mandate. "It's an initiative out of One West Street (the county executive's office), and I think it's politically motivated," said the union chief, who for some time has been at odds with County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a longshot candidate for governor.

Police Commissioner James H. Lawrence denied Dela Raba's claim about Suozzi's office. "Nobody there is telling us how to deploy our troops," he said.

Besides removing patrols from the malls in Garden City, Westbury and North Valley Stream, some officers were also withdrawn from school/gang, anti-crime / plain clothes, and DWI and traffic enforcement details, Dela Raba said. In all, 24 officers have been moved from these units to precinct sector cars. Most affected among the department's eight precincts are the 3rd in Williston Park and the 8th in Bethpage, which had six and five officers reassigned, respectively, Dela Raba said. There were no moves in the 2nd in Hicksville.

"As the manager of an agency, I think it is my responsibility to be fiscally sound and to deliver the best service as efficiently as possible -- but never at the expense of public safety," Lawrence said. "The result of what we do is [shown in]the low crime rate here in Nassau."

But Dela Raba said: "All of this movement and vulnerability just strengthens my longtime argument that we need more police officers."

More detectives are also needed, according to Thomas Willdigg, the head of the county's 397-member Detectives Association, who has been lobbying the county legislature for more detectives for several months. "And most critically impacted are our narcotics and vice units and sexual crimes unit" he said yesterday, adding that his group is 30 members below full strength.

Lawrence, though, said he "is the commissioner; not Mr. Dela Raba or anybody else. This recent action is an adjustment, and we're always making adjustments."

"I basically agree with Mr. Dela Raba," said Legis. David Mejias (D-North Massapequa). "Public safety is a priority during the summer, especially with kids out of school and more of them hanging out at the malls."

By SID CASSESE (Newsday)
Posted Thursday, July 27, 2006

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