(11/01/06) MINEOLA ? Hundreds of Nassau County police officers, along with their families, rallied in Mineola Wednesday to boost what they are calling sagging morale.

Those at the rally say the event was not meant to point fingers. They claim it was merely a show of support for their colleagues on the police force. At the rally, Nassau PBA President Gary DeLaraba said he is concerned about the end of community policing in Nassau County. According to Delaraba, the days of the same officers patrolling the same neighborhoods are coming to an end. Police officers also say morale within the department is at an all-time low.

Members of the Nassau County Legislature from both sides say they support the police department. Republican Legislator Peter Schmidt says the department is in danger of turning into a reactive force, rather than a proactive body. Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) says she hopes to see the number of officers increase in the near future.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Police Commissioner James Lawrence were absent from the rally, but appeared in a press conference later Wednesday. Suozzi says the rally was not about sagging morale, but about the $25 million in givebacks associated with the police contract negotiations. The Nassau police contract expires December 31.

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