(10/03/06) MINEOLA - Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said Tuesday police retirement payouts abuse taxpayer dollars more than anywhere in the state.

Under the current contract, Nassau police officers are paid for unused vacation and sick time upon retirement. Suozzi says the average payout in 2005 was $250,000, which is in addition to their health benefits and pensions. He also claims three captains received more than $500,000 last year. Nassau PBA. President Gary DelaRaba says he will not negotiate the upcoming contract in the press. Arbitrators are often used to settle Long Island?s police contract disputes.

In Suffolk, County Executive Steve Levy says the current union contract was negotiated by the previous administration. Suffolk officers are also paid for unused sick and vacation time when they retire, but Levy says he has limited those payouts among non-union cops while in office. The Suffolk police contract expires next year.