MANHASSET, NY – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today announced the re-opening of two police precincts seven years after they were closed in a consolidation plan. The reopening of the Sixth Precinct in Manhasset and the Eighth Precinct in Levittown will add staff and services to enhance the county’s successful community policing initiative, which focuses on proactive crime prevention and quality-of-life strategies.
“Our precincts are a vital part of Nassau’s unique police-community connection,” said County Executive Curran. “Seven years ago, these communities lost their police precincts, and with them a little bit of civic pride. These newly-renovated and properly-staffed precincts are a key part of our comprehensive effort to strengthen community policing in Nassau. Community policing is really part of Nassau’s DNA. We do it better here than anywhere else.”
Beginning Tuesday, April 9th, the Sixth Precinct will be up and running inside a modular facility adjacent to the stationhouse, which will undergo renovations. That will be followed by the reopening of the Eighth Precinct in Levittown on Wednesday, April 10th.
“I am pleased to announce with County Executive Curran that these precincts are officially open to serve our residents,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “The Nassau County Police has a long standing reputation as one of the most service orientated police departments in the country and this brings back the community policing model to the local communities. We have heard many times over the years that our residents repeatedly wanted their precincts back open and this is now a reality.”
“I’m not only glad that our communities will have their precincts back – I’m just as glad the sworn members of the department will have their precincts back,” Curran added.
Two commanding officers and a fully staffed reception desk have been assigned to restore services and respond to calls and complaints previously directed to the Third Precinct in Williston Park. Sector cars will now report to the restored command in Manhasset.
The widely praised problem-oriented policing deployment, or POP, will be returned within the Sixth and Eighth Precinct commands. This proven program assigns officers to work closely with community leaders, business owners, and residents – particularly young people.
Officers focus on crime prevention, safety issues, traffic hazards, graffiti complaints, among many other quality-of-life issues.
“Our precinct doors are always open to speak with our police officers, supervisors and POP officers, which in turn keeps those lines of communication open with our entire community,” Police Commissioner Ryder said.
The Manhasset stationhouse, built in 1973, at 100 Community Drive, is currently in line for an estimated $800,000 renovation to the HVAC system, lobby upgrades and other improvements throughout the building. Construction is scheduled to conclude in October.
Pending completion of the repairs, the mobile office unit located adjacent to the Sixth Precinct is serving as a temporary base of operations with offices for the new commanding officer, deputy commanding officer, and space for staffing the precinct front desk.
County Executive Curran thanked Legislator Ellen Birnbaum for her tireless advocacy in working towards the reopening. She also thanked the entire Legislature for working in a bipartisan manner to reopen the precincts.
“Over the course of time when both precincts were closed, we have continued to assign the same personnel to patrol posts and crime in both areas has declined to historic lows due to the dedication and hard work of our department members,” Ryder added. “I am proud to announce that Inspector Gregory Abruzzo will be the Commanding Officer of the 6th Precinct and he will continue our beliefs and values that guide our department as Loyalty, Integrity, Fairness and Excellence.”
