Gonsalves Announces Meeting to Discuss Community Policing Plan

Legis. Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, announced that there will be an informational meeting to help residents understand how the will affect the community.

The meeting, which is scheduled on Feb. 7 from 7-9 p.m. at the , will feature appearances from acting Police Commissioner Thomas Dale and representatives from County Executive Edward Mangano's office to answer people's questions. No registration is required, and walk-ins are encouraged.

Four precincts will remain intact while the remaining four will be transformed into new Community Policing Centers, Mangano said.

According to a release from the county, the Second Precinct in Woodbury, Third Precinct in Williston Park, Fourth Precinct in Hewlett and Seventh Precinct in Seaford will continue to operate as regular precincts, while the First Precinct in Baldwin, Fifth Precinct in Elmont, Sixth Precinct in Manhasset and Eighth Precinct in Levittown will become community policing centers.

"They told us that the second and third were realigned is primary because their communication system is compatible," Gonsalves said. "The same goes with the seventh and fourth."

The plan also eliminates more than 100 desk jobs and slashes "costly" built-in overtime benefits, Mangano said. A total of 48 police officers will be reassigned from desk jobs to Problem Oriented Police (POP) positions.

While the number of precincts and desk jobs will shrink, Mangano said the number of patrol cars will remain the same.

"Keeping residents safe is my number one priority," Mangano said. "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."

Are you planning to come to the informational meeting? What questions do you have? Tell us in the comments.