A collection of notable characters in suits, surrounded by the men and women in blue, stood outside the front door of the newly christened Third Precinct, ready to be taken to the holding cell inside, at least for a little while.

You see these characters were the usual suspects who show up at an opening of this magnitude, politicians, and they were there for a tour of the holding cell, the training room and all the other facilities offered the officers of the Third.

"Well, they needed it," said Joe DiGiorgio of the new building. DiGiorgio was a member of the team that built the original precinct in 1954. He and other county workers transformed an 1800's farmhouse into a headquarters that stood until the construction of this new building that was completed a few short months ago.

The Third was one of three precincts, the First and Seventh being the others, that was built out of pre-existing structures. "I would say this is the ideal spot for the Third Precinct," he added.

He was a frequent visitor of the site while it was under construction. "I was watching it every day, as I went by," he said. Another pair of eyes trained on the project belonged to former Williston Park Mayor Tom Muldoon.

Muldoon and the trustees of Williston Park worked with the Nassau County Police to keep the project in line with other renovations in that area along Hillside Avenue.

"It is the realization of an achievement," said Muldoon of the three year project's completion, "It shows that they are operational, official and they are now doing business at the old stand."

Along with Muldoon another mayor, Mineola Mayor John P. Colbert, attended the official opening of the Third Precinct headquarters.

"The Village of Mineola has such a good rapport with the police department of the Third Precinct," said Colbert. "This modern facility will enable them to do an even better job."

"As a lifelong resident of the area, I think it is great that they have this facility," added Legislator Richard Nicolello.

"It was no longer performing its service," said County Executive Tom Gulotta of the old precinct house. Gulotta noted that the crime rate in the county has gone down and he credited this achievement to the work of the police. "We can ensure that they receive the best facilities to fight crime," he added.

Along with a lowered crime rate that proves they are working hard, Police Commissioner Donald Kane noted that the size of this particular precinct, stretching from the city line to the Wantagh Parkway, dictates a need for state of the art facilities.

And what of the men and women who will utilize this facility, what do they think? New Commanding Officer of the Third Precinct Vincent Muscarnera compared the old precinct house with the new by saying, "It is like comparing the 19th century to the 21st century."

Though some may protest, the visiting politicians were let out of the precinct house after the tour, and the men and women of the Third Precinct went back to work putting the new facilities to the test in the name of protecting the residents of Nassau County.