Levy pulls more cops

[PBXTech]

Levy pulls more cops from state roadsBY REID J. EPSTEIN | reid.epstein@newsday.com
12:50 PM EDT, September 15, 2008
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy removed all county police officers from patrol duty on the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway at 10 a.m. Monday morning, the capstone in his battle to force the State Police to monitor the roads.

Patrols were immediately assumed by Suffolk County Sheriff's deputies, said Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, who had but a few hours notice of the move.

"Things happen, things come up," DeMarco said. "I understand why some decisions are made. All I care about is that the public is safe."

Levy said he is "very comfortable" with the move, which he said will maintain the same level of officers as have patrolled the roads since July 1, when Levy pulled 13 officers from the roads.



Levy said it costs $42,000 less to have deputies patrol the highways than it does Suffolk police officers.

"This will generate savings and provide savings while we await further action from the state," he said.

For months, Levy has been embroiled in a high-stakes game of chicken with state government officials. In April, he and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi pledged to begin pulling their county police officers from the LIE if the state did not provide funding or state troopers to do the job.

In July, Levy pulled the first batch of officers from the roads, though Suozzi has yet to make a similar move.


http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-posuff0916,0,110206.story

[gbotj]

Suozzi is not and will not pull NCPD from the highways....especially after buying all those new highway chargers.

[PBXTech]

Suozzi is not and will not pull NCPD from the highways....especially after buying all those new highway chargers.

I hope your right. I hope Suozzi also keeps on track with the hiring of new police.

[Jak_bot]

what would happen if (and its a long shot) the county did not even hire one cop off of the 2007 exam?

[Natsirt01]

Bring back the Long Island State Parkway Police and put the Troopers in the LIE

[gbotj]

OR have the LIE and eastern part of Sunrise patrolled by NCPD/SCPD and the state kicks back more money per summons.
Right now I believe county only gets about $3 per summons.

[NYJets44288]

Nassau isn't going to remove officers from the highway. And they only have 2 highway chargers 2252 and 2262. They never use the things but I saw a darn 97 crown vic on the LIE the other day. ew.

[NYCTNT]

I do not think anyone knows how much the country gets per summons. So much BS in the middle of the smoke and mirrors.

I dont mind who patrols the highways, SCPD and State Troopers are gentlemen. Nothing but good experiences from both agencies.

[gbotj]

They never use the things

they are out everyday. I saw one on a carstop today. They also have a few unmarked chargers I think.

[NYJets44288]

Oh, okay then. But yeah, like I said, they have two. That's hardly a reason to not disband highway though. Lake Success has the sickest of the sick chargers though.

[Natsirt01]

Looks like only 100 less officer in off the new list

Suozzi submits Nassau budget with tax increase

BY SID CASSESE | sid.cassese@newsday.com
8:27 PM EDT, September 15, 2008

Police department reductions and consolidations account for nearly a fourth of the $69.5 million in savings that accompany County Executive Thomas Suozzi's 3.9 percent property tax raise in his proposed 2009 budget.

The tax hike in the $2.6 billion budget proposal, submitted to the legislature by Suozzi at 5 p.m. Monday, will raise $30.5 million in revenue, averaging $58 per home. Suozzi called it a "balanced budget."

The police department actions include civilianizing about 100 jobs held by sworn officers in various unions, who will return to the streets. Subsequently, new police hires will drop by about 100. Civilian employees earn much less than police officers.

The Police Benevolent Association agreed to a deferral in its cost-of-living increase that will save Nassau $8.2 million next year. It will lose 50 jobs to civilians, saving the county $2.5 million, and it will let training be done on regular time, instead of overtime, saving another $1 million, Suozzi officials said.
Some of the givebacks came from negotiations that extend the current PBA contract three years, to 2015, although neither the county legislature nor the union's rank-and-file have yet approved the extension.

"We did not want the county to do anything that would jeopardize the safety of the public and our officers," said PBA president Jim Carver. "And we expect our membership to go along with that when our ballots are counted on October 1."

Up to $3 million will be saved by civilianizing some jobs held by superior officers and detectives; another $2.8 million is expected to come through equipment and supply savings, said Deputy County Executive Thomas Stokes.

Instead of hiring advanced medical technicians part time to offset overtime, the county will hire 10 full-timers at a starting salary of $25,000 a year instead of the current $36,300. Officials said that could save $200,000.

Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the Civil Service Employee Association, said the union might go along with the reduced starting salary "if it's in the best interest of everybody concerned and because those workers would catch up on salaries in two or three years."

But he said he strongly opposes consolidating police building and fleet maintenance workers with public works employees.

Stokes said the merger would save Nassau $1 million by making operations more efficient next year and more after that.

All information technology staff will be merged into the existing Department of Information Technology, saving $2.5 million, Stokes said. That move will include 20 civilian workers from the police department and is opposed by Laricchiuta.

Suozzi would cut utility costs $5.8 million by closing two buildings: 101 County Seat Dr. and the DPW Franklin Square garage.

The county Legislature will begin holding committee hearings on the budget Oct. 2, with a hearing before the full body Oct. 20.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-ponass0916,0,5685368.story

[gbotj]

thats only about 10 less people per class. I wouldnt worry about it.

[Jak_bot]

gbotj.... always puts a positive light on things

thats only about 10 less people per class. I wouldnt worry about it.

[gbotj]

lol


I'm a glass half full guy.

[ChrisF202]

What happens to Motor Carrier Safety? Who handles fatal MVA investigations? What happens to the motorcycles (I was told the deputies have their own motorcycle unit)?

BTW: I saw about 1,000 deputies on the LIE and Sunrise yesterday .... where did they all come from? Did they put every deputy on duty or something?

[TheAnimal]

What happens to Motor Carrier Safety? Who handles fatal MVA investigations? What happens to the motorcycles (I was told the deputies have their own motorcycle unit)?

BTW: I saw about 1,000 deputies on the LIE and Sunrise yesterday .... where did they all come from? Did they put every deputy on duty or something?

Could be just for show, since it was the first day and the local media is all over this

[PBXTech]

Big Suffolk County PBA meeting tonight. Suffolk County Police want there highways back. Levy is trying to move foward and replace alot of other SCPD divisions with Suffolk County Sheriff officers.

[gbotj]

yepp expect to see Deps alot more throughout SC.
I can see Deps manpower rising from 250 to about 450/500 or more.


Looks like if you want to be a cop for suffolk, the list to be on is SCSD. Alot of definite hiring, and more options for patrol work.

[Jak_bot]

Driving on the LIE today; exits 63-67 there were several deputy sheriffs. However I saw a SCPD K-9 cruiser in the median with his radar going.

[PBXTech]

yepp expect to see Deps alot more throughout SC.
I can see Deps manpower rising from 250 to about 450/500 or more.


Looks like if you want to be a cop for suffolk, the list to be on is SCSD. Alot of definite hiring, and more options for patrol work.


Those test results should be out soon. Everyone said that test was easy but I had some trouble with it. See what happens when the scores come out.

[ChrisF202]

yepp expect to see Deps alot more throughout SC.
I can see Deps manpower rising from 250 to about 450/500 or more.


Looks like if you want to be a cop for suffolk, the list to be on is SCSD. Alot of definite hiring, and more options for patrol work.
Depending on how this works out in regards to saving money I would not be suprised if Penny Pincher Stevie reduces the scope of the County Police even further. I would not be all that surprised if the SCPD loses the Marine Bureau next (Sheriff also has their own marine unit).

I also totally agree with your last part about the hiring and especially with the manpower increase. I definitely foresee them hiring at least one pretty big class.

[FordRanger]

BTW: I saw about 1,000 deputies on the LIE and Sunrise yesterday .... where did they all come from? Did they put every deputy on duty or something?[/QUOTE]

Please only put correct information on the board. There are people on this board who do not have as great a depth of Knowledge as to South Eastern NY law enforcement. They may confuse your "1000" comment as an actuality ....... It is a matter of record suffolk deputies not assigned to the jails amount to only several hundred.

[gbotj]

there are 275 Deputies and 500 correction officers.

[Traffic1]

Lil' Stevie backed himself into a corner on this one. He tried to save face by removing the district cops off the highway. All he saved was a lousy $40,000 or so. As far as the taxpayers are concerned, thats nothing. That $40k will be even less after we figure the deputies overtime in the mix. From what I can tell, there are 4 cars and a boss on each of the highways. I bet Lil' Stevie is praying that the PBA sues and wins the highways back so that he could get out of this mess without admitting he messed up. :eek:

[PBXTech]

So I just heard the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office is having a big rally at the Dennison building in hauppauge tomorrow. They are going to explain how they have the resources to take over Suffolk PD ESU, K9 and the marine units by next year.

[TheAnimal]

Anyone heard anything from the PBA or Frayler yet about this? I really hope they are planning on reacting to this.

Can that really be legal, to keep a huge change like that under wraps until just hours before hand so the union has no time to counter? Doesn't seem too democratic to me.

[FordRanger]

So if i understand you correctly..... The sheriff will be taking over all of the specialized units leaving only patrol for the police..... If That is true then Levy clearly relizes that he can't (at least immediately) replace the police but he will sucker punch them by taking away all of the specialized units in an attempt to attack moral and cause infighting. ............. Good job Levy..... You must be taking a page from the NYPD circa 1988 "How to completely destroy a top notch police dept.. " in an attempt to make them a laughing stock......
What is Steve Levy? Perhaps, one of those people whose only interaction with the police was when he got a speeding ticket back when he was 17 and has hated them ever since.... Thumbs down to you Levy.......

[gbotj]

Ford, I think you are correct. I heard that Levy did get tagged by SCPD (prior to being elected CE). I guess he's had a hard on ever since.

Your right about the NYPD thing too. Your looking at the beginning of the demise of SCPD.

[FordRanger]

Hopefully Suffolk has term limits ..... This way he only has time to partially enact his plan....... Hopefully the next guy/girl fixes it stronger and employs the amount of cops we are actually paying for....

[gbotj]

I hope so too ranger. Because if not your going to see the size of SCPD decrease and the size of SCSD increase. SCSD is not getting a taste of power sort of like how a shark gets a taste of blood and immediately wants more. I can see SCSD merging with Suffolk Park Police, and any small town PD that wants to merge (huntington bay police, and other smaller 3 or 4 man departments).

[jerry40]

Check out the Suffolk PBA striking back:

www.suffolkpba.org

[Jak_bot]

I guess he's had a hard on ever since.


GBOTJ, I wonder where you got that line from.... lol!!!

[TheAnimal]

Check out the Suffolk PBA striking back:

www.suffolkpba.org

yea jerry I checked that out, nothing new except they just posted the article about what levy did. I hope something is being planned behind the scenes...

[gbotj]

GBOTJ, I wonder where you got that line from.... lol!!!



????not sure what you mean. Just said what came to mind.