Top cop promotion commotion
BY MICHAEL ROTHFELD AND MONTE R. YOUNG
STAFF WRITERS
November 4, 2005
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi recently offered to promote his fiercest foe - the head of the county's largest police union - to take the job of police commissioner, Republican Gregory Peterson charged last night.
Suozzi denied asking Police Benevolent Association President Gary DelaRaba to become the top cop, although DelaRaba said the offer was made at a diner in the summer.
In his four years as county executive, Suozzi has blamed DelaRaba second only to the Republicans for nearly driving the county into bankruptcy.
After last night's debate, DelaRaba said that he had met at the Brookville Diner with Suozzi. "He said, 'I want you to be the next commissioner,'"
"If that was the case, then why did he offer Mr. DelaRaba the commissionership back in June when they had a meeting?" Peterson asked during the televised county executive's debate. "The only thing I can think of is that it's perhaps because they endorsed me, and not him, he's now taking them on."
"That last comment was just absolutely false," Suozzi retorted.
Suozzi and DelaRaba have feuded about the union contract and size of the force, but have tried to make peace at times.
After last night's debate, DelaRaba said that he had met at the Brookville Diner with Suozzi. "He said, 'I want you to be the next commissioner,'" DelaRaba recalled. "I said, 'Listen, I don't change uniforms at halftime. I don't play one half as a Giant and come out as a Jet.'"
After the debate, Suozzi said in an interview, "I never offered him the commissioner's job. I never talked to him about the commissioner's job ... Gary likes to take half-truths and joking around and then call it the truth."
Suozzi has attacked DelaRaba for making $280,000 this year from salary and a retroactive arbitration award. DelaRaba, meanwhile, has waged an ad campaign accusing Suozzi and other legislators of gutting the department and endangering the public.
"This is the work of a desperate man who can't get every politician in his pocket," Suozzi said. "Besides, I can't afford Gary. He makes more money than my commissioner."
Posted Friday, November 4, 2005
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