Mangano’s Proposed Police Changes Require a Public Hearing

Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell (Baldwin) in a written letter has requested that the Legislature's presiding officer Peter Schmitt and its' Public Safety Committee chair Dennis Dunne conduct a public hearing to focus on the recent proposals by County Executive Edward Mangano to alter current police policy.

Last month Mr. Mangano resubmitted his 2011 budget for the review by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), the state oversight board which recently imposed a financial control period for the County. In his revision, Mr. Mangano proposed redeployment of police personnel, consolidation of a police precinct and unspecified layoffs.

"County residents need to know the nature of these potential policy changes", Scannell contends, "Before they are presented to the legislature for action."

Legislator Scannell continued, “Any proposal to redeploy police men and woman, close any precinct or lay off any member of our police force demands a thorough airing before the Public safety Committee. This hearing will allow the administration to present its' ideas in an open and visible format which permits a total and fair evaluation of any changes." According to the Baldwin lawmaker, the hearing will facilitate an "honest analysis of what the Mangano administration is presenting and how it affects the lives of every resident of Nassau County. It will permit an open exchange under questioning which should provide everyone with the information needed to determine if these proposals enhance or compromise public safety."

Legislator Scannell hopes to receive an answer to his request very soon.