Facts about Nassau's New COP Plan:

• Assigns 48 more police officers to community policing positions.
• Maintains all 177 patrol cars in their current neighborhoods.
• Redistributes administrative workload more evenly among four new police precincts.
• Transforms four current precincts into four new Community Policing Centers.
• Saves taxpayers up to $20 million annually by eliminating 100 desk jobs.
• Provides residents with the ability to access traffic accident reports at precincts and Community Policing Center

The Alternative: Raise Property Taxes on Every Nassau Resident

Facing a $310 million deficit, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano had two choices: raise property taxes by 39% or cut wasteful spending and reorganize the police department. Thankfully, Ed Mangano chose to reorganize the police department and cut wasteful spending throughout all departments.

In February, County Executive Mangano and Police Commissioner Thomas Dale announced their Nassau's new COmmunity Policing (COP) Plan that reassigns 48 police officers from desk jobs to Problem Oriented Police (POP) positions and transforms four current precincts into new Community Policing Centers to be located throughout the County. The plan eliminates over 100 desk jobs and slashes costly built-in overtime benefits while modernizing Nassau's 1970's eight precinct-building plan to account for the last 40 years of technology enhancements that have reduced administrative workload throughout the department. The COP plan corrects imbalances in current workload, as three police precincts presently perform twice the workload of the remaining five precincts.

“Keeping residents safe is my number one priority,” said County Executive Mangano. “This plan keeps all 177 patrols cars in their current neighborhoods, assigns more cops to POP and opens four new Community Policing Centers throughout the County while increasing efficiencies.”

When residents dial 911, the call goes to a 911 Call Center in New Cassel, then to the police car in your neighborhood. That process does not change under County Executive Mangano's plan. All 177 police cars will remain in their current locations. At no point does a residents 911 call go to any police precinct as those buildings are used for residents seeking accident and other reports, the processing of criminals and processing of paperwork.

The Nassau County Police Department analyzed the distribution of workload within the department over the past 6 months with the goal of addressing contemporary crime trends. This analysis also included identifying the reasons residents visit precinct buildings. Our research indicates that residents not subject to arrest seldom visit precinct buildings. The common instance for visiting a precinct building is to obtain a traffic accident report. Accordingly, the department will make this information available on the Internet to assist residents, as well as at precincts and Community Policing Centers.

“This plan saves taxpayers significant dollars while streamlining duplicative work, redistributing workload and assigning more officers to POP and special patrol," said Commissioner Thomas Dale. "Nassau County police officers change shift at their post and not at the station houses like you see in the movies. Residents should know that response time will not be impacted as police officers will remain in their current neighborhoods and additional officers will be assigned to our neighborhoods.”

Technological enhancements have truly helped make law enforcement response more efficient and effective in fighting crime. Patrol cars have become mobile precincts as they are presently equipped with computers, Shotspotter and the REAL Time Intel System. Officers receive briefings in their vehicles and input intelligence and key information right from their own patrol vehicle.