Stationhouse Uproar
"Please consider this letter an immediate demand to remove all police officers from the First Precinct station house," Braun wrote.
Station house uproar
BY MICHAEL ROTHFELD
STAFF WRITER
May 19, 2005
Nassau's largest police union and a county lawmaker Wednesday demanded that the Police Department evacuate the First Precinct station house in Baldwin due to a discovery of asbestos. County officials responded that the material poses no threat.
A Police Benevolent Association trustee, Craig Braun, wrote a letter Wednesday to the precinct commander, Insp. Patrick O'Connor, to say the union had paid for lab tests of floor tiles and glue that were removed May 4 during renovation of the station house kitchen.
The tests revealed the presence of asbestos and a "serious unhealthy and hazardous condition," according to Braun's letter, which was obtained by Newsday.
"Please consider this letter an immediate demand to remove all police officers from the First Precinct station house," Braun wrote. He demanded that the police set up a temporary station house until the asbestos problem is fixed.
Nassau Public Works Commissioner Peter Gerbasi said his agency had tested the material and air Tuesday in response to a request from maintenance workers, and he confirmed that they were "typical asbestos vinyl" present in many county buildings. He said air quality tests came back negative.
"If it's not in the air, you're not breathing it. If you're not breathing it, it's not a hazard," Gerbasi said.
Det. Lt. Kevin Smith, a police spokesman, said the kitchen has been sealed off with plastic as a precautionary measure.
"We're not going to be evacuating the First Precinct," Smith said.
Legis. Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) joined the PBA in calling for a temporary closure, saying the kitchen was not immediately sealed off and the testing was inadequate.
"They should have tested the whole First Precinct," Scannell said. "We should absolutely err on the side of safety."
PBA president Gary DelaRaba disputed the county's findings but declined to elaborate. He scheduled a news conference for Thursday morning.
Posted Thursday, May 19, 2005
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