In a recent letter to the editor, the writer expressed the view that Mineola should establish its own police department. The writer, a member of the mayor's select committee to look into the feasibility of such a move has apparently made up his mind as to the direction the village should take. I feel those wishing to make that change are doing a tremendous disservice to the men and women of the Nassau County Police Department. Some 70 years ago, the Village of Mineola administrators saw the wisdom of having the safety and security of its residents turned over to the Nassau County Police Department. A department that would someday be judged one of the top 10 police departments in the country. That wisdom should still be considered today.

The decline in the lack of patrol and enforcement is not with the dedicated police officers now serving our community. Most of the fault lies at the occupants of 1 West Street, Mineola. From the day the current county executive announced his candidacy for that office, he had blamed the costs of running the police department for most of the financial deficits the county was laboring under. He promised to eliminate that problem and now he and his administration have seen to the erosion of services once taken for granted under the past county administrations. Services have declined, manpower has diminished and morale within the department is at a new low. Members of the force are no longer asked if they want to work overtime, but they are ordered to. It makes no difference if the officer's child or family had made plans to be together. Duty calls? Some officers have had to work 50 hours or more hours a week just to meet minimal staffing which could effect the county's residents safety. In their scheme of things the administration seems to think paying overtime is cheaper than paying for health and liability insurance for the much needed new police officers. Look at the contract the Correction Officers are asking and quadruple that amount for our police officers. And now there is a move to eliminate another one or two sector cars in each precinct. How will that affect patrol and safety of our residents? So I say again before you jump to a conclusion that the men and women of the department are not responding to your needs, consider their workload. As a matter of fact it wouldn't hurt to stop and talk to the officers once in awhile and get to know them and their concerns for your well-being.

Could the police officers themselves help restore some of the confidence once shared? I'm sure they could. There is still a policy within the department that allows officers to park and leave their vehicles for short periods of time. They could then walk and talk to the community's residents they serve. What better way to get reacquainted and restore that confidence? But direction must come from above.

Do I sound biased? The answer is probably "yes." My family, from my father, my wife (a school crossing guard in Mineola for over 20 years) my son and I, have close to 100 years of service to the Nassau County Police Department - a service I am proud of. So I ask, no I say to the dissenters; remember that our village fathers saw the benefits of becoming part of a fine police department. Maybe we should consider that wisdom again today. Give the department a chance to get back to its original professional status and remember where most of the blame is to be laid.

Dan Scheidel

NCPD Ret.