Massapequa Activists Oppose Police Restructuring Plan

Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey slaid out his plan before the Legislature's Public Safety Committee.

"We are making inroads in fighting crime and I have no plans to dismantle the POP Unit," Mulvey said. "I am just restructuring the unit and we will still be able to fight crime in a significant way."

The Nassau County Police Department is currently in the middle of a six week period where 125 police officers, detectives and supervisors are retiring, according to the commissioner, who added that due to harsh economic times, there are no new hires planned to replace the retirees.

According to Mulvey, in order to maintain the strength of the patrol force, the remaining police personnel must be restructured. One police officer from each precinct's POP Unit will be temporarily reassigned to regular patrol. The temporary reassignment is beginning on Monday and will end in the first week of November.

But opponents of the restructuring fear that putting POP officers on the street takes away important liasons between the police and the community.

Janice Talento, Co-Founder and President of Drug Free Massapequa, which sent out a letter this week urging members to protest the plan, is frustrated by the restructuring.

"The plainclothes are going back to street patrol wearing police uniforms and this just isn't a good idea," she said.

"The POP Unit serviced our streets in a big way. They walked our schools and communicated with the public. Now they are being put in police cars. All the progress that we made with the POP unit will stop."

Also dissatisfied by the restructuring decision is John Budnick a former Nassau County prosecutor and Massapequa resident John Budnick.

"Two weeks ago on Cherry Street where I live, we had cars vandalized on my block," he said.

"Petty thefts are also happening. The POP units help in every way possible with these types of crimes. The POP Unit and regular cops are not the same – a cop in uniform can't give the school lectures. The POP unit is out in the community walking and talking to the people that live in the area."

Budnick offered a solution to the problem that he feels would better serve the community. "Take officers from behind their desks and put them in the POP Unit or bring retired police officers back," he said. " The POP units' presence in a neighborhood is tremendous. Putting the POP unit officers in the place of these retirees is not the answer."

Joe Spinosa, a member of DFM's advisory board and a former cop, wrote the letter urging members to protest.

"I feel that the POP Unit is the major key to getting the arrests," he said. "They make a huge difference when it comes to drug and gang activity. Let's put it this way - they are the pointy part of the spear. Commissioner Mulvey says this decision is temporary but I have seen many temporary situations turn into permanent ones."

By Ursula Moore
Posted Friday, October 8, 2010

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