Nassau County police will soon have half of its eight precincts consolidated.
The first phase of the Nassau County police precinct realignment plan went into effect Tuesday, part of a drastic department reorganization that will cut the number of fully staffed station houses in half.
The Eighth Precinct station house in Farmingdale will now be a lighter staffed community policing center after being absorbed by the Woodbury-based Second Precinct, which will remain in tact.
Next, police plan to consolidate the Third Precinct in Williston Park and Sixth Precinct in Manhasset by July 1, the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett and the Fifth Precinct in Elmont by Sept. 1, then the Seventh precinct in Seaford and the First Precinct in Baldwin by Nov. 1.
The Manhasset, Elmont and Baldwin station houses will all become community policing centers, too. All arrests will be processed in the remaining four precinct station houses or police headquarters in Mineola, once the consolidation is completed.
County Executive Ed Mangano touted the plan as a $20 million savings measure to help close a multi-million dollar budget gap. Nearly 100 police officers took an early retirement incentive as a part of the reorganization.
Police Commissioner Tom Dale has said the plan will not impact public safety and the number of standard patrols on the streets will remain the same.
Nassau County Police Benevolent Association officials remain critical of the plan.
