Democratic Nassau lawmakers were joined by law enforcement officials and community members for a rally Monday to call on the county to reopen the Manhasset police precinct that was shuttered in 2012.

Legislator Ellen Birnbaum led the rally on the steps of the Nassau Legislative Building. She and other Democratic lawmakers are pushing for the county to restore the 6th Precinct, and more than 1,600 residents have signed a petition calling for the same.

The police station was merged with the 3rd Precinct as part of a restructuring plan to cut costs. The 3rd Precinct is only 3.5 miles away, but it now has a significantly larger coverage area. The merged precinct stretches from East Meadow west to New Hyde Park and all the way to Sea Cliff.

Those who rallied Monday questioned whether Nassau has enough police personnel to cover the precinct and if the merger has actually saved any money, but they say the biggest concern is crime rates. They point to Nassau police numbers showing crime rates in the 3rd Precinct have risen nearly 12 percent in 2016.

Still, Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter says crime in the area of the former 6th Precinct actually dropped during that period.

"I think it's irresponsible for some legislators to say quality of life is suffering, because people have a safety they'd have nowhere else in the region," Krumpter says.