Officials hail POP’s return to precinct

The Problem Oriented Policing unit, a.k.a. POP, has returned to the 5th Precinct in Elmont after a two-year absence. The Nassau County Police Department redeployed 16 officers to the unit after Thanksgiving.

“Now that a new class of officers have begun, now they can start adding them in,” said Cristina Brennan, deputy director of communications for Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). “They’ve also been asked to by the Legislature.”

Two officers, Steve Lincoln and Rita Bopp-Carroll, were reassigned to the office from regular patrol duty. Budget cuts by the county in 2011 had reduced the precinct’s staff of POP officers from four to one before the precinct closed in 2013.

One of the most vocal opponents of the dissolution of the program was Legislator Carrie Solages (D-Elmont). In June 2014, Solages met with Elmont residents to address the issues that arose in the wake of the cuts. According to Solages, the feedback he has received from his constituents has reflected frustration and fear, so he was buoyed by the news that there would be more community interaction between police and residents.

“This is what I and many community leaders have been fighting for for the last two years,” Solages said. “I’m very happy that we kept this issue alive.

POP units, their proponents say, can better address the needs and concerns of the community by developing relationships with residents, who are urged to call the POP office directly and report any suspicious activity.

“Working with the schools and the community is what I really love to do,” said Bopp-Carroll. “I’m really happy to be back.”

Residents can always call 911 in emergencies, while the POP office is meant to respond to less-urgent matters, like noise complaints or bullying. Bopp-Carroll spoke to community members at the East End Civic Association meeting on Dec. 1, explaining what residents should expect from the POP unit.

“We try to do some problem-solving before it becomes criminal,” she said. “Any situation where there’s conflict between students and it could become criminal, we try intervene before that happens.”