A major topic of discussion in the new administration of the village has been the possibility of Mineola instituting its own police force. Some key factors have led to the discussion.

For one, it is no secret that the village's administration has not been totally satisfied with the police coverage Mineola receives. In the days when the county's police force has been reduced due to fiscally motivated decisions, some members of the Mineola community wonder if the three and a half police cars that patrol the village are enough.

Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins believes the current police officers who cover the village are extremely professional and do a fine job. However the mayor feels Mineola should have more coverage. Úquot;I think they're doing a fine job. I just don't think there are enough of them to do what they are called on to do in Mineola,Úquot; he said.

There are three and a half cars that patrol the Village of Mineola. However, the mayor is concerned that sometimes cars can be pulled from the village, leaving Mineola without optimum coverage. Úquot;I think we need to come to grips with the fact that there are rarely three and a half cars in Mineola because more often than not, one of those cars is out of service. Either it's transporting an ambulance to the hospital or it's responding to a call outside of Mineola. More often than not, at least one car is gone. If they're busy with these other activities, who's watching our residential neighborhoods? Who's watching the parks? Who's patrolling? That's really what my concern was,Úquot; he said. Úquot;They're being stretched. It puts an undue burden on the Mineola cars.Úquot;

While Mayor Martins has been advocating for more police coverage in recent days, Nassau County has seen its police force decrease by slightly over 20 percent in recent years due to the county's fiscal problems in which officers retired but were not replaced.

Nassau County Police Commissioner James Lawrence, who has served as commissioner for a year and a half, still feels, however, that even with the current police force, the department can still provide adequate coverage. Úquot;I have enough people to supply really excellent police service to the people in the county,Úquot; he said.

However, some may disagree. Last month, although the county's 2004 budget was approved by the Nassau County Legislature by an 18-0 majority, Republican legislators expressed concern that not enough money was allocated to hire new officers.

Mayor Martins recently met with Nassau County's deputy county executive Tony Cancellieri to discuss a Mineola police force. According to the mayor, the county may not stand in the way of Mineola trying to get its own police force. The village can then proceed with the process of hiring a consultant and establish a committee to study the feasibility of implementing a police force.

Mayor Martins feels that the village having its own police department is a quality of life issue that at least should be looked at. He said he would like to evaluate how much it would cost to provide the same number of cars Nassau County provides to Mineola and then evaluate what the needs of the community are and how much it will cost to provide those needs. Úquot;There are two numbers that are going to be involved. Now that we've met with the county, the next step is to set up a task force, hire the consultants and move on,Úquot; he said. Úquot;Hopefully, by January, we'll be able to provide a report from the committee and we can start holding public hearings maybe February, March and April.Úquot;

The mayor said the issue of the village having its own police department would come before the voters of the village in a referendum. A major obstacle could have come from the county. However, the mayor believes the county will not stand in Mineola's way.

The obstacle that may stand in the way of the village getting its police force is cost. The mayor has acknowledged that the village will pursue its own police force if it is cost effective.

Village Trustee Linda Fairgrieve agrees that it must be cost effective for the taxpayers, but sees the benefits of the village having its own department. Úquot;If you have your own department on anything, I think it's better.Úquot; But, she said, Úquot;It all comes down to cost.Úquot;

Neighboring Garden City has its own police department. For fiscal year 2001-2002, the budget for the police was $6.7 million, which includes 55 officers and 14 civilian positions. According to the department, patrols consist of four cars at night and five in the day for the six square mile village.

Another village that has its own police department is the Village of Floral Park. The budget for the police for the one and a half square mile village amounts to $4.427 million, which includes 25 officers, a commissioner, two lieutenants and five sergeants among other personnel.

Unlike the Mineola Police Department, which dissolved in 1929, Floral Park's police department was never dissolved and the Village of Floral Park never had services from the county other than those from headquarters.

Úquot;We're a border community on the city line and I think we feel by having our own police department, it's a real plus for the community,Úquot; said Floral Park Mayor Ann Corbett. Úquot;I think the proximity to the city is one of the major reasons why I think most people feel it's good to have our own department.Úquot;

Mayor Corbett does acknowledge that running a police department does impact taxes. But, she said, residents seem to support the idea of the village having its own police department. Úquot;They seem to support the idea of keeping the police department. We haven't had to look at it and say we need more police officers. I think what we have is adequate to do our job,Úquot; she said. Úquot;We have a low crime rate here.Úquot;

According to Mayor Martins, the village residents pay the county $10.2 million a year for police. Of the $10.2 million, $4.1 goes to headquarters. With a village police force, Mineola would still be paying the headquarters tax. However, if the village does establish its own police force, it would cease to pay the $6.1 million for the 3rd Precinct patrols. Instead of residents' tax dollars going to Nassau County, they would be applied to the village budget, which would naturally be higher as a result of the village funding its own police department.

While it may be feasible to have an annual police budget of $6.1 million or less, voters may ultimately have to decide if they are willing to absorb the startup costs it would take to start a police department. Úquot;The point is does the $6 million we're paying now, will that cover all our costs? I don't know. You have startup costs,Úquot; said Fairgrieve.

Commissioner Lawrence believes the people in the Village of Mineola will be better served if they were served by the Nassau County Police Department. Úquot;But, naturally to do that, we have to work with local government,Úquot; Lawrence said.

The commissioner said Mineola would be better served because of the resources the county police can provide. Lawrence pointed out that if one of Mineola's three and a half sector cars gets tied up, the county can use its resources to cover. Úquot;If that sector [car] is not available, then they call an adjoining sector. I think that's something that the mayor may not have included in his calculations as far as the cost,Úquot; Lawrence said. Úquot;I think that all in all, the people in Nassau County get quick response from our police officers and fragmenting the delivery of police service just creates other issues.Úquot;

However, Mayor Martins feels that the village establishing its own police force may turn out to prove to be not only cost effective, but may give the village a better police presence and that's why the village is pursuing it.

Mayor Martins' pursuit of a village police department isn't as much about saving money as it is about providing the village with more of a police presence. Úquot;That is the goal,Úquot; he said.

Commissioner Lawrence believes that Mayor Martins just wants to deliver to the residents of the village the best police service possible. Úquot;That's what I believe he wants and I think working with him, I think he'll be pleasantly surprised,Úquot; the commissioner said. Úquot;We can look at the issues and come up with strategies of how to deal with them.Úquot;

Mayor Martins said he is more than willing to sit down with county officials as long as it means Mineola will get more coverage. Úquot;If they cannot provide adequate coverage, then we have to protect our residents and we have to look for alternatives,Úquot; he said. Úquot;I'm not going to turn my back on the county. If the county is willing to sit down and provide us with additional coverage that will allow us to protect the quality of life in this community, that's great. We're certainly not going to turn our backs and close our eyes to different options.Úquot;