Nassau County
ORG
Nassau County
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. Nassau County recently released an audit finding soaring overtime costs and mismanagement in the department, and recommended that many jobs be taken over by civilians. 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 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.