Nassau County, NY – Today, the Nassau County Legislature unanimously approved an eight and one half year labor agreement with the Nassau County Police Department’s Detective’s Association (DAI). Along with the new agreement, County Executive Curran announced today that the Nassau County Police Department has promoted 24 police officers to Detective, helping to fill gaps in the detective squads in the Sixth and Eighth Precincts.
“As County Executive, my number one priority is the safety of our residents and keeping crime at historic lows. As a result of this new pact, I am immediately adding 24 new Detectives to help resolve the County’s detective shortage. This deal will boost law enforcement’s ability to fight crime and safeguard our communities. I congratulate the DAI for moving forward first in collective bargaining and the Nassau County Legislature for recognizing the importance of this agreement,” said Nassau County Executive Curran.
“The Nassau County Detectives Association is pleased to learn that the Legislature has ratified our new contract with Nassau County. We await the anticipated approval of our contract by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority. This contract with its raises and new grade structure provides a career path not only for Police Officers but just as important it will retain many of the current senior members of the detective division who will train and mentor these new Detectives. The contract will incentivize Police Officers to apply for the designation of Detective. As you can see with the 24 new detectives made today we have been successful in that endeavor,” said DAI president John Wighaus.
The new contract, which was ratified by the DAI in late December, is an 8 1/2-year contract which includes total wage increase of 15%. The contract also remedies the chronic shortage of detectives by establishing a career path to recruit and retain Detectives.
The agreement takes in account the enormous financial stresses faced by the County by including;
- Increased appearances at work for detectives. These extra hours will immediately put more Detectives on the street, enhance safety and increase our policing response in the County.
- All Detectives will begin contributing to their health insurance starting next year.
- The new agreement will slowly reduce the entitlement to termination pay over time.
The final stage of the approval of the agreement is NIFA approval. The NIFA board is expected to meet on Tuesday. This Agreement was negotiated cooperatively by the County and NIFA.