Nassau Police Department Behind The Times
BY MICHAEL FRAZIER
STAFF WRITER
January 11, 2006, 10:07 PM EST
In this high-tech age, imagine law enforcement agencies unable to electronically track a stolen patrol car or officers who can't determine where an emergency call was made.
Despite the advent of widely used GPS and caller identification systems, the Nassau police department's eight precincts are operating without them, County Comptroller Howard Weitzman said in a newly released audit.
"We don't have caller ID at the department level," Weitzman said at a news conference yesterday. "Almost every one of the homeowners in Nassau County has caller ID, but we don't."
The audit was performed at Bethpage's Eighth Precinct, which was chosen randomly. It revealed antiquated technology, soaring overtime costs, the need for more civilian jobs and wasteful management of 68 crossing guards, Weitzman said.
The audit was performed at Bethpage's Eighth Precinct, which was chosen randomly. It revealed antiquated technology, soaring overtime costs, the need for more civilian jobs and wasteful management of 68 crossing guards, Weitzman said.
Similar problems exist department wide, officials said.
"We've ... done a tremendous job of controlling expenses over the last four years, but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down," Weitzman said. "We can still do better."
Many problems highlighted in the audit are already being addressed, with most expected to be complete by the end of the year or in 2007, County Executive Thomas Suozzi said. He said GPS trackers are being installed in patrol cars and caller ID is being added on phone lines at the precincts.
PBA president Gary DelaRaba said 91 jobs have been converted and only nine posts remain that are fit for civilian workers.
The 911 dispatchers already have caller ID.
According to the audit, the county could save more than $3 million a year if they hire more civilians for some jobs held by officers. At the Eighth Precinct, more than $325,000 a year would be reduced if civilians performed the clerical tasks now performed by five officers.
"There's no reason why we need to have highly paid and highly trained police officers performing clerical jobs," Weitzman said.
Converting police jobs into civilian positions is accomplished during contract negotiations between the county and the Police Benevolent Association. The current contract expires at year's end.
PBA president Gary DelaRaba said 91 jobs have been converted and only nine posts remain that are fit for civilian workers.
"You can't just take anyone off the street and say, 'Here do this,'" DelaRaba said.
But Suozzi's numbers differ from DelaRaba's. Suozzi said 80 positions have been converted and he's seeking to reassign 20 more.
To better address costly overtime, county officials are waiting for the results of a $250,000 independent study, which begins in the spring, that will review police staff and daily operations.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
Posted Friday, January 13, 2006
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