Getting efficiencies out of the department is very difficult. Nevertheless, my administration was able to make substantial progress — though much of it has been reversed — by having civilians fill positions when possible, by scheduling more efficiently and by placing less expensive sheriff’s deputies on the highways.
The Suffolk County Police Department has launched a new telephone hotline, dubbed “Cancel the Keg,” aimed at stopping underage drinking parties before they begin. Photo Credit: Ed Betz
Newsday’s editorial on excessive police costs in Suffolk County is the best and most overdue editorial on the subject in decades [“What price for police?” Sept. 12]. However, Newsday’s suggestion to let the public vote on whether to tax itself more is misguided.
Getting efficiencies out of the department is very difficult. Nevertheless, my administration was able to make substantial progress — though much of it has been reversed — by having civilians fill positions when possible, by scheduling more efficiently and by placing less expensive sheriff’s deputies on the highways.
True relief for taxpayers can only come about from one of three drastic options.
1) The State Legislature could finally grow a backbone and do away with mandatory arbitration. It could also eliminate overtime from being factored into police pensions and stop sick days from being cashed out upon retirement. New York City doesn’t allow cash-outs.
2) Implement a control board that would give county management the statutory authority to undo the burdensome contracts.
3) Abolish the police department and have sheriff’s deputies perform their duties, as is the norm in most counties in the state. We can grandfather in the present officers at the present pay scale, but require that all new replacements be sheriff’s deputies, who currently go through the same training at the same academy.
Yes, these are radical steps, but financial collapse may be the alternative.
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders coasted upon a big wave based on the theory that many of our institutions are rigged. But what could be more rigged than the rate-setting schemes for our utilities?
August 17, 2016Especially galling to Long Islanders is that while they will pay significantly to subsidize the upstate plants, they were required to fully bailout their own Shoreham plant with no assistance from any other taxpayer or ratepayer in other parts of the state.
October 4, 2016Letter: Let Suffolk deputies do police work
The Suffolk County Police Department has launched a new telephone hotline, dubbed “Cancel the Keg,” aimed at stopping underage drinking parties before they begin. Photo Credit: Ed Betz
Newsday’s editorial on excessive police costs in Suffolk County is the best and most overdue editorial on the subject in decades [“What price for police?” Sept. 12]. However, Newsday’s suggestion to let the public vote on whether to tax itself more is misguided.
Getting efficiencies out of the department is very difficult. Nevertheless, my administration was able to make substantial progress — though much of it has been reversed — by having civilians fill positions when possible, by scheduling more efficiently and by placing less expensive sheriff’s deputies on the highways.
True relief for taxpayers can only come about from one of three drastic options.
1) The State Legislature could finally grow a backbone and do away with mandatory arbitration. It could also eliminate overtime from being factored into police pensions and stop sick days from being cashed out upon retirement. New York City doesn’t allow cash-outs.
2) Implement a control board that would give county management the statutory authority to undo the burdensome contracts.
3) Abolish the police department and have sheriff’s deputies perform their duties, as is the norm in most counties in the state. We can grandfather in the present officers at the present pay scale, but require that all new replacements be sheriff’s deputies, who currently go through the same training at the same academy.
Yes, these are radical steps, but financial collapse may be the alternative.
Steve Levy, Bayport
Steve Levy
Related posts
Senate Immigration Bill a Gift to Open Borders Democrats
Read more
Senate Bill Sanctions Illegal Immigration
Read more
Media an Arm of Democratic Party, Especially on Immigration
Read more