Thomas R. Suozzi
PER
Thomas R. Suozzi Suozzi Tom Suozzi
For years, there has been a battle raging in Nassau County between the county executive, Thomas R. Suozzi, and the largest police union in the county, which has some of the highest-paid officers in the country and enjoys one of the lowest crime rates. Mr. Suozzi has blamed officials from the union, the Police Benevolent Association, for the bloat in the department's budget, which accounts for a quarter of Nassau's county budget. Mr. Suozzi makes $109,000 a year as the county's top elected official. There has been a battle raging in Nassau County between the county executive, Thomas R. Suozzi, and the largest police union in the county, which has some of the highest-paid officers in the country and enjoys one of the lowest crime rates. Mr. Suozzi has portrayed the union president, Gary Dela Raba, and his executive board as fat cats lapping up tax dollars and dragging Nassau almost into bankruptcy. Mr. Dela Raba has accused Mr. Suozzi of trying to gut the Police Department, balance the county budget on officers' backs and expose this wealthy suburban county to an increase in crime.