OUR POLICE

For the past 10 years the LHPD has been subjected to periodic malicious attacks, spearheaded each time by the same individual. These attacks are designed to undermine the LHPD & whoever is in charge at the time.  The goal? Apparently control of the Department, directly or indirectly, or possibly disbanding it completely. The method? What one disgusted and irate resident terms "periodic witch-hunts & smear campaigns" in the form of allegations to NY State authorities of ìcriminalî wrongdoing, flagrant neglect and general incompetence. These allegations are so pernicious that the State launches an investigation. Guess who foots the bill?  We do - the resident taxpayers.  And the cost is enormous. 

The investigation initiated in spring 1997 involved a protracted audit lasting over a year & expending thousands of man-hours of time by Village staff, police, attorneys and auditors, to say nothing of volunteer time and aggravation.  The NYS Comptroller's closing report of June 1998 recommended several modest changes to existing village internal controls; noted that computerization had already been initiated; and found no substantial or deliberate wrong-doing. 

State Commission of Investigation

In the most recent instance, The State Commission of Investigation released their report in March 2007, after over a year of investigation of every aspect of the LHPD's daily operations. Again, expenditure of thousands of man-hours and tremendous related taxpayer expense.  The findings?   No evidence whatsoever of wrong-doing.  "After examining LHPD payroll, overtime, sick time & leave records, the Commission found no evidence of any scheme to generate overtime or to pay officers for time not actually worked.  As in most police departments, overtime is a necessity and the LHPD appears to allot it fairly..." (NYSCOI Report March '07 p.28).

"The LHPD handled approximately 1,396 calls for service in 2005... nine reflected failures that led to delayed response by the LHPD..." (p.25). Those nine were primarily the result of communications equipment inadequacy. 

Only four recommendations were made by the Commission, including hiring of additional dispatchers and electronic up-grade of communication intake procedures, items already addressed independently, prior to receipt of the report.

• Why Overtime??   Our Village historically has run a "minimum-manned" police department.  This means that we do not carry extra manpower with the attached salaries & benefits. However, we will incur overtime, both anticipated & unexpected, due to vacations, line of duty injuries (an officer out for a year '06-'07), regular sick time (at a record low), deer culling-related vandalism & harassment, State investigation demands,etc. The State Commission confirmed that overtime is necessary, to be expected, and allotted fairly by the LHPD. Overtime is a matter of adequate coverage and public safety.  The LHPD, by agreement, works many OT tours at regular "straight time", rather than "time & a half."   Virtually all police departments work OT at "time& a half." We are very fortunate to have this " straight time" agreement. OT is an item we routinely evaluate, as to the efficacy of "minimum manning" versus hiring additional full-time officers.  
• Allegations of false arrest: These allegations are bizarre and the underlying events more so. Both incidents involved civilian complaints.  Neither incident was witnessed by police. No action was taken until complaints were filed and signed by the civilian parties.  Appearance tickets were subsequently issued for future appearance at Village Court. Any claim to the contrary by anonymous sources is pure self-serving spin, and an attempt to malign the LHPD.

Our Police Department should never be a political pawn.  It exists to enforce Village laws in an even-handed and effective manner, and to protect and assist residents.  The Officers of the LHPD are better trained than ever before, having worked in other jobs in plainclothes, violent crime, narcotics and various patrol operations before coming to Lloyd Harbor. They perform a difficult, often delicate job in an exemplary and dedicated manner, and deserve our trust and appreciation.   The Officers of the LHPD have our full support. We are proud of their professionalism, competency and good conduct.  

Important Letters

March 2007

Very Revealing - State Commission of Investigation Report

March 21 2007

NY State Commission of Investigation of the Lloyd Harbor Police Dept.

March 22 2007

Resident to the Long Islander

March 24 2007

LHPD-Letter to Long Islander about SIC Report

April 10 2007

Locals Want Cops Raise - Letter to the Editor of the Long Islander

May 2007

Lloyd Harbor Patrolmen's Benevolent Assoc.

April/May Village Record

A Flood of Support for our Police