Fifth precinct officially reopens

Local officials, police leadership and school district administrators alike celebrated on Monday, as the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct officially reopened after being closed for more than two years.

At a press conference announcing the reopening, Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter stressed that it would not impact taxpayers. “Not only are we reopening the precinct,” he said, “we are doing so while maintaining our budget, so there is no impact at all on our budget at this point in time.”

Legislator Carrie Solages (D-Elmont), who said he was “appalled by the [Mangano] administration’s move to close half of the police precincts in Nassau County” when the consolidation was announced, said the precinct’s reopening was a cause for celebration. He pointed out that while crime in the county fell by 10 percent in 2014, the precinct’s coverage area is in need of a strong police presence.

“This is a great day,” Solages said. “We need our precinct. We are here on the border of Queens, and while I agree that crime is at an all-time low, we here have seen something different in this district. We are very glad to see our precinct back.”

The 5th, 6th and 8th precincts were closed by the county in 2012 in what County Executive Ed Mangano called a cost-saving measure. The 5th Precinct served Elmont, Franklin Square, Garden City South, Lakeview, Lynbrook, Malverne, South Floral Park, Valley Stream and West Hempstead. The precinct headquarters, on Dutch Broadway in Elmont, served as a community policing center while the 4th Precinct, in Hewlett, patrolled the area during the closure. There are currently no plans to restore the 6th and 8th precincts, which were headquartered in Manhasset and Levittown, respectively.

Solages, who voted against the consolidation in 2012 and spoke regularly about the need to restore the precinct, said that the occasion was not about laying blame, but rather about doing what is best for the community. “To everyone who stood up for what is right and stood up for regaining our precinct, I say thank you,” he said. “We truly appreciate this bipartisan effort on the part of everyone, both Republicans and Democrats, to do the right thing and get our precinct back … This is about going forward, not about pointing the finger at anyone. This is about us working together hand in hand. That’s how we can solve crime in our communities.”

Solages also praised the work of the county police, calling the relationship between residents and officers crucial to crime prevention. Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James Carver agreed, saying he wanted to give special credit to the officers that patrolled the area after the consolidation.

“Let no one forget that over the past few years, while the precinct was a policing center, the men and women of the 5th Precinct continued to do an excellent job in this community of keeping it safe, even though they didn’t really have a home in this community,” Carver said. “That goes to every cop that spent time in Elmont, Franklin Square, Valley Stream — everywhere, making sure this neighborhood was protected.”

Adrienne Robb-Fund, superintendent of Valley Stream School District 13, said the reopening of the precinct was especially good news for schools in the area.

“I’m delighted to see the precinct reopen, absolutely delighted,” she said. “This should allow us to communicate with the police more quickly. They will be able to respond much faster than they would from the 4th Precinct. The police did a very good job while the precinct was closed, but having a precinct back in our own community and neighborhood is even better.”

Bill Heidenreich, superintendent of the Valley Stream Central High School District, said that while the officers of the 4th Precinct did a good job of responding to the district’s needs, the reopening of the 5th demonstrated the county’s commitment to the local community.

“Initially, when the precinct was closed, we were worried that the increased distance from a precinct would mean a different kind of relationship with the police, longer response times, but by and large, they did a great job of responding to us,” Heidenreich said. “What this really does is send a powerful message to everyone in our community that the county is dedicated to ensuring the health, safety and wellness of everyone within its borders.”

Robb-Fund said she was especially excited that the Problem Oriented Policing Unit, a group of officers who worked closely with community leaders, might soon be reconstituted. The program was cut after the consolidation. Krumpter said it was scheduled to begin again soon, but did not provide a timetable.

“That was always a crucial part of our relationship with the department,” Robb-Fund said. “Having that program back on its feet — and I’m hopeful it will be up and running again soon — will also make a big difference.”