The Nassau County Detectives’ Union says there is a detective shortage that poses a public safety concern.

Nassau County’s budget allows for 360 detectives; the county has 317. The Union says this deficit could allow for crime rates to rise.

“We want to staff the detective division and the police department at levels where they should be, to keep that crime down,” says Detective John Wighaus.

The Union says the shortage may be, in part, the product of lack of incentive for police officers to become detectives. A police officer who becomes a detective receives a $2,400 raise, but a massive workload increase, the Union says.

 

The Union will enter into contract negotiations with the county later this year.