Local Legislators React to Police Precinct Merger Vote

Nassau County legislators in the Wantagh-Seaford area who voted in favor of a plan to merge eight police precincts into four say the will not impact public safety.

Legislative Majority Leader Peter Schmitt, R-Massapequa, whose 12th district encompasses part of Seaford, said following the 10-9 vote along party lines that Nassau County will continue to be one of the safest counties in the nation under the new model.

“This plan maintains the same number of police vehicles patrolling the county and adds 48 officers back onto the streets,” Schmitt said. “I have full confidence that Police Commissioner [Thomas] Dale will maintain the high quality police protection that our residents deserve.”

The restructuring plan approved late Monday afternoon will turn the First and Eighth Precincts, which both cover portions of the Wantagh-Seaford area, into community policing centers. The  in Seaford, which covers a majority of the local area, will remain open.

Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne, R-Levittown, called his decision to vote in favor of the precinct restructuring plan “necessary” in order to assist the community. Dunne, whose 15th district covers a large part of Wantagh and Seaford, felt that the current precinct structure was dated and said that the proposed changes were needed. He was also happy that the plan prevented the county from raising taxes on his constituents.

"Realignment was necessary," Dunne said. "The buildings were getting old and dilapidated. We were going to have to spend capital funds to straighten out some of the buildings because they were so old, in need of repair, in need of a tremendous amount of structural change. This is one way of doing that, in addition to realigning and being able to put a bit of cost-saving for the taxpayers, without hurting our public safety."

“We are bringing the Nassau County Police Department into the 21st Century,” said Nassau County Legislator Joseph Belesi, R-Farmingdale, whose 14th district includes a portion of Seaford north of Jerusalem Avenue. “There will be no reduction in Nassau’s public safety, and I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Dale on the successful implementation of this plan.” 

County Legislator Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick, whose 19th district encompasses the southern area of Wantagh, said he voted against the plan for a number of reasons. 

"It was incredible that a plan that was still being negotiated was voted on," he said. "The plan to close four precincts relies upon an incentive to reduce the police force by 100 people to save money, but that reduction doesn't necessitate closing precincts, so the savings have nothing to do with the closure plan." 

Denenberg said that the administration claimed that the plan would put more police on the street, but it will not.