My Space: Local Town Gears Up To Serve and Protect Their Own

Did you ever wish you could make essential decisions about where you live, such as what types of stores or housing go up, and how the neighborhood is maintained? Perhaps you’d like to help ensure the safety of your family.

Well, at least as far as the latter is concerned, some Long Islanders may just get that chance.

It seems the Village of Mineola is considering creating their own police force and has even offered up a detailed breakdown of the budget for doing so.

According to those who propose the plan, each officer will cost $112,279.26, that’s including benefits, for the first year. Refurbishing an existing building to serve as headquarters is estimated at around $1.05 million and a box of road flares (12 to a pack) should cost $12.40.

These, among other costs and incidentals are featured in a report recently released by the town residents who have been fastidiously looking into their own force for over two years.

In fact, the report is anticipated to serve as the outline for a variety of public hearings, and if the measure gets approved the town of Mineola will have its own police force comprised of 37 officers-supervisors included, and in place by January 2008

According to reports the first year would cost $6, 512, 787.54, an amount just slightly less than the $6,730,886.10 spent for Nassau County patrol services last year.

They add that the county will continue to offer specialized services including homicide investigation, und a “headquarters tax” funded by all localities, via an amount already paid annually.

Currently, Nassau County offers an average of 2.92 patrol personnel per shift in Mineola during the day and a village department could field at least double that amount during the same time, according to the report.

Furthermore, the officers would stay within the village, while Nassau officers currently spend at least 20 percent of their on duty time on calls outside Mineola.

The new department would be made up of 28 officers, six sergeants, two lieutenants and a commissioner. And, a least one sergeant would be available at all time, while the two county sergeants on duty at any time are spread across 27 localities.

But, the Nassau County Police Commissioner is skeptical as to whether the village will be adequately able to offer an increased level of police protection at the same cost.

In fact some officials are focusing on the Nassau Police Benevolent Association’s recent complaint that it was lacking “manpower” to deal with gangs and other area problems. But, the commissioner disregarded the protest as a way for the union to oppose the new contract.

According to the measure, some of the initial costs including computer systems and renovations for headquarters would be financed via bon issue to be repaid over five years and which will be part of the annualized costs.

In fact, the report is available on the village Web site at mineola-ny.gov.

And here is a brief overview of what the measure will cost.

$6.5M First-year cost for Mineola village to start 37-officer force

$112,279 Cost per police officer, including benefits, in the first year

$1.05M Renovation costs for police headquarters