As of Dec. 19, 2005 Jay S. Caputo is the newly appointed inspector, commanding officer of the 6th Precinct, replacing Officer Maguire who served as commander for a mere six months before being promoted to deputy chief, detective division. There were many changes around the beginning of the year, Caputo said, occasioned by a spate of retirements at the upper level.

Also joining the Sixth Precinct are Captain Sean O'Donnell and Lieutenant Louis Montelone. "We serve at the pleasure of the commissioner," Caputo said, and noted that while Maguire was commanding officer of the precinct for six months, others have served for six years.

Caputo's career, at this moment, has come full circle since back in 1973 he was a Sixth Precinct patrolman for three years. Successively he was in the detective division, crime scene unit, for 14 years; made Sergeant and spent four years in the 4th Precinct in Hewlett; made lieutenant and spent one year in the 1st Precinct in Baldwin and then served at headquarters in Mineola from 1995 to 1999 as administrative assistant to the chief of the department where he oversaw three divisions: patrol, detective and support (police academy). His last position was commanding major offense squads, including homicide, robbery, district attorney and special services which encompasses juvenile, special victims and child abuse squads.

One of his first assignments, the crime scene unit, resulted in part from his knowledge of photography, a skill he studied while receiving his degree in art from Nassau Community College. He then earned a BA in management from Adelphi College and graduated from the FBI National Police Academy where an individual must be selected in order to attend.

After September 11th Caputo was assigned to the Middle East with the Navy Reserve. He remained overseas about a year with Naval intelligence, protecting the troops by flying into ports four or five days prior to the ship's landing to assure a safe port.

On a personal note Caputo has been married for 27 years and has two daughters aged 21 and 19. He enjoys the outdoors and used to sail but says he no longer has the time.

When asked about home invasions Caputo remarked, "I do believe we have put a stop to them." He elaborated saying that at the direction of the commissioner the robbery squad was the lead team and with a concerted effort from the patrol and detective divisions arrests had been made. The crimes had been committed, he stated, by a crew of four or five individuals working out of Brooklyn.

"Police work is much different now than it used to be, Caputo continued, "especially the approach, which is more pro-active, more preventive. There is more time given to summonses and responding to community needs." Caputo said there are 17 incorporated villages in the 6th Precinct and each board and each mayor has its own agenda. It is his intention to respond to and to treat them all equally. It is more quality of life issues now, he continued-slow traffic down, keep drunken drivers off the road-to make it safer for everyone else.

The difference in approach can be problematical, Caputo said, because a detective is more re-active, he visits the crime scene to solve the case and there is a beginning, middle and end to the process, resulting in a sense of satisfaction at solving the crime. With a uniformed officer it is different because they can be on patrol, be a great officer, preventing crime by simply driving around town being a presence, yet never actually knowing what crimes were prevented, Caputo explained. Watching crime statistics drop is not the same rush as collaring a criminal, and "there is less acknowledgment for the policeman and the public doesn't see it," Caputo said.

On Plandome Road Caputo intends to provide as much enforcement as possible although he acknowledges the narrow road with parking on both sides makes it difficult to track down "U-turners" because a police car in pursuit doing the same thing increases the danger. He will continue to police the area and to give summonses for cell phone use.

Police cars are assigned to specific areas: 607 Plandome Manor; 608 Plandome Heights and the downtown area; 609 Munsey Park; 610 Flower Hill; 615 part Manhasset near the Police Station and part of Great Neck; 616 South Strathmore Area; 624 Plandome.

In the wake of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina-and the resulting focus on disaster preparedness-Caputo is checking into how existing communication systems are tied together.

Welcome back to the Sixth Precinct Commander Caputo.