I am very much in favor of a Mineola Police Department. I live near the Mineola Memorial Park, which has always been a beautiful, peaceful setting with no noise or loiterers at night. Over the last year I have seen a remarkable change in the park, with teenagers flocking there at night, making noise and hanging out.

I have been in touch with the Nassau County Police Dept, the auxiliary police and the mayor's office to try to put a stop to this. All have been helpful. I would say on most weekend nights, I call the police two to four times to ask them to come to the park for a problem. They always respond but rarely get out of their car. The kids scatter and the police leave. The kids often come back 10 minutes later. We also have a homeless person that lives in the park. I have called on numerous occasions about that problem too but it is not going away.

We need a police force that knows our Mineola trouble spots and works on a solution. We need people who have an investment in our community thriving. My husband is a retired police officer so I have great respect for all that the Nassau County Police Department does. But Mineola is only one of the areas they are responsible for and they just can't devote the attention that is needed to our unique community problems. You cannot attach a price to security and quality of life.

On another note, are you a parent who is dropping off your child at the Mineola Memorial Park to hang out at night? So many times I look out the window and see parents doing this. They just drive away and leave their child there. What are they thinking about? I, for one, would not want to see my child hanging out in a gang of kids under a street lamp. Are you aware that the police are chasing them from that spot each night? Please take a moment to think about what your kids are doing at night. Where are they and who are they with? It is your responsibility as a parent - please do not shirk it.

Lana Illiano