The Village of Mineola held its third public hearing concerning the possibility of the village establishing its own police force as opposed to being patrolled by the Nassau County 3rd Precinct on Saturday, April 8.

Having a hearing on a Saturday gave residents who normally cannot attend hearings in the evening to be heard concerning the issue. Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins reiterated the idea of looking into a village police department came about as a result of some residents' concerns over the amount of police coverage from the Third Precinct the village was receiver. According to the Nassau Police Commissioner Jim Lawrence, the village receives the equivalent of about three patrol cars. For that patrol, village taxpayers pay $6.7 million.

A task force of village residents appointed by Mayor Martins studied whether establishing a village police force was legal and economically feasible. The task force, consisting of residents with accounting and law enforcement backgrounds, concluded that it was legal according to the Nassau County charter and economically, the village could provide the same coverage it is receiving from Nassau County for less money than taxpayers are paying the county.

It is the mayor's contention that the village deserves more police coverage from Nassau County than it is getting based on what taxpayers are paying for and if the county isn't going to provide more coverage, the village should look into an alternative. "The status quo, at least for me, doesn't work. It doesn't work that you're paying $6.7 million and only receiving about $3.6 million worth of coverage," Mayor Martins said.

Mineola resident Bob Imbornoni commented that the task force is comprised of former law enforcement officials who are heroes but that doesn't mean they are infallible.

Mayor Martins said that if someone thinks there is something wrong with the report, he or she should point out specifically what is wrong with the report.

Mr. Imbornoni mentioned the concern of police brutality cases brought up against police departments in the past and the impact settling such cases may have on village taxes.

Mr. Imbornoni also commented that he doesn't feel there is a crime problem. Mayor Martins agrees that there isn't a crime problem in Mineola, but that there are quality of life problems. The mayor also commented that the alternative of the village starting its own police department is more coverage from Nassau County.

Mr. Imbornoni also brought up the point that if starting a police department was such a great idea, why aren't more villages doing it, referring to the fact that a village police department hasn't been successfully started in quite some time.

Mineola Civic Association President Bill Urianek, who has been a proponent of the village starting its own police department, said he doesn't have confidence in the Nassau County Police Department. Urianek believes the village forming its own police force would allow for more responsiveness for village residents.

Village Trustees Linda Fairgrieve and Paul Cusato have maintained that village residents need more than the police task force report to make a decision on whether the village should establish its own police force. Fairgrieve successfully proposed publishing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to possibly hire "independent" consultants to conduct a study on the police issue. Resident Dennis Walsh said at the police hearing that if the village board can't give the Mineola Ambulance Corps more money in the budget then the board shouldn't put $100,000 in the budget to hire a consultant to study the police issue.

Frank Messana, a village resident for 35 years and a retired Nassau County Police officer, said he looked over the task force's report and doesn't know how the village could have a department with the numbers that are indicated in the report. He said a big problem with the report is crossing guards. The task force's report calls for crossing guards to be part-time employees who would not get benefits whereas county crossing guards get benefits. Therefore, it would be hard to get crossing guards and officers would wind up working the crossing guard posts.

A major criticism of the task force report is that it doesn't provide for enough officers. Mayor Martins explained that the task force's report was a feasibility study to determine what it would cost to provide the village with the same coverage it receives from Nassau County with a village police department. The mayor said the task force is working on an operational plan of what the village police department would actually be comprised of.

Alluding to an independent consultant reviewing the issue, Mr. Messana said that wouldn't be a bad idea. "To have someone step back and look at the picture and come up with an unbiased view, I don't think would be a bad idea when you're going to spend millions of dollars," he said. "The more information, the better."

Mr. Messana also commented on what is on the minds of all those who are concerned about the issue - what it's going to cost. Some believe that village taxpayers are paying too much to the county for the coverage it is receiving and that it's time for the village taxpayers to invest in their own department to get the coverage they deserve. While others like Mr. Messana believe the costs associated with starting a police department from scratch will spiral out of control. "I just think the numbers are going to be astronomical in the end," he said, adding that the village task force report doesn't account for enough officers.

Mayor Martins said that if the village establishes its own police force, village taxpayers wouldn't be paying the $6.7 million to the county. Instead, village taxpayers would be funding the village department.

Mr. Messana made his case for keeping the county police department by saying, "If the crap hits the fan, you know that you have the backup of the county coming in to help you."

Mayor Martins responded by saying, "The taxpayers are paying an exorbitant amount. All we ask is that they get their due. There's got to be a way for them [Nassau County Police] to provide us with the amount of personnel and coverage that corresponds to what we're paying."

Resident Sam Donato spoke out in favor of having a village police force because the force would be dedicated solely to the village and issues concerning the village. Donato said he also thought putting money in the budget for a consultant would be a bad idea.

Resident Tim Almeida said if it works in dollars, it would be a good thing for Mineola. He also said he thinks the Request for Proposal is a good idea and suggested perhaps having money available in the contingency portion of the budget to hire an independent consultant to review the issue. As far as the task force's report, Mr. Almeida feels the level of staffing included in the report needs to be looked at.

Mayor Martins once again pointed out that the feasibility study conducted by the task force provides for the coverage the village is receiving from the Nassau County 3rd Precinct and the task force will be recommending what the size of a village police department would actually be.

Mr. Almeida suggested offering a petition to Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi signed by village residents to give the Village of Mineola more police coverage.

A 37-year resident of Mineola, Joe Galante said he has some serious issues about the proposal. He agrees that the village should receive more coverage from the county and agrees with the idea for a petition, although he said if a crisis occurs, having the county provide its resources is a big advantage. Mr. Galante agrees with the push for an independent consultant to review the possibility of a village police force.

Mayor Martins has said that he hopes to let voters decide in June through a referendum whether to establish a village police department. Mr. Galante suggested having the referendum in November when there will be elections for Governor, Congress, Senate and Assembly so that there will be a higher voter turnout. Mr. Galante also said it would allow more time for consultants to answer the Request for Proposal and for an independent consultant to conduct a study.

Mayor Martins pointed out that the process has been open and will allow an opportunity for everyone to be heard, but there's going to come a point when people will get to vote.