1st Precinct to remain open

Baldwin’s 1st Precinct was slated to close, but will now remain open indefinitely.

Chris Connolly

The Nassau County Police Department’s 1st Precinct, in Baldwin, will remain open for the near future, and possibly for good. Police officials announced on Monday that they were postponing the closure, attributing the revision of their plans to the effects Hurricane Sandy had on the South Shore.

The controversial consolidation of the county’s police force was initially intended to halve the number of precincts from eight to four, and was projected by County Executive Ed Mangano to save $20 million. The closing of the 1st Precinct, which was to be absorbed by the 7th in Seaford, was to be the final move in an effort that had already seen the 4th and 5th precincts combined, as well as the 8th and 2nd and the 3rd and 6th.

Police officials said that closing the 1st was still a possibility, but added that they were forced to rethink their plans when flooding from Sandy caused a shutdown of the 7th Precinct in late October. “The 7th Precinct, where it’s currently situated, had floods that surpassed it during the storm,” explained First Deputy Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, adding, “It’s a possibility that we may realign the South Shore among three precincts rather than two precincts.”

Julie Mansmann contributed to this story.