Suffolk police want a guarantee that their jobs won't be transferred to the county sheriff's department in order to agree to a layoff-preventing maneuver.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has threatened to lay off of seven officers and cut hundreds of vacant positions if the union doesn't agree to a "lag payroll." The lag payroll would force officers to give up two weeks of pay this year, which would be given back to them at retirement.

PBA President Jeff Frayler says the move will be considered only if the department's police jobs are safe. Levy had angered the union by using sheriff's deputies to replace Long Island Expressway highway cops.

"The only issue left to bring this to a resolution is a guarantee that these police jobs that are held by us will not be given away to another police agency," says Frayler.

The Suffolk County Legislature wants the union and Levy to come to a deal before their next meeting on Aug. 4.