Claim Horrendous Conditions
Nassau COs Call Sheriff a Slacker

By REUVEN BLAU

The union that represents Nassau County Correction Officers last week delivered a vote of "no confidence" in Sheriff Edward Reilly, contending that his policy decisions have endangered the health and safety of officers, inmates, and the surrounding community.

JOHN DUER: Negligence could cause tragedy.

"Unless Sheriff Reilly starts working with us, rather than against us, someone is going to get seriously injured or possibly wind up dead," said John Duer, president of the Sheriff Officers' Association (ShOA).

Sheriff Scoffs At Action

Timothy Driscoll, the Deputy County Executive for Law Enforcement and Public Safety, maintained that Sheriff Reilly "enjoys the full confidence" of County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

"Our Correction Officers do a fantastic job, and the Sheriff has also done a fantastic job leading them and overseeing the jail," he said during a Nov. 2 phone interview. "He has done a fine job managing the Correctional Center, including ensuring that the department is satisfying the Department of Justice consent decree regarding use of force in only three years."

The DOJ required the county to enact additional oversight procedures after officers were found to have beaten inmates in the facility several years ago.

Left Underprotected

The union, however, cited a variety of grievances against Sheriff Reilly including: the lack of sprinklers in specific facilities and funding to provide officers with bulletproof vests and other protective gear needed to man outdoor posts.

More than 400 officers protested against Sheriff Reilly at an Oct. 30 informational rally. ShOA represents approximately 1,100 Correction Officers who serve at the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow. The union charged that the department has also failed to repair leaky roofs where some 300 inmates are housed, despite paying penalties imposed by the state Labor Department in early 2005. The area is covered with mold and has caused health and electrical hazards, according to the union.

In addition, ShOA contended that its members who transfer inmates to the Nassau University Medical Center are forced to drive them in old, beaten-up vehicles that leak exhaust fumes, lack heat and have many mechanical problems.

Wage Fight a Factor

Nassau County Correction Officers have been working under an expired contract since January 2005. The wage dispute seemed to be resolved in August 2005, when both sides announced a tentative six-year agreement that included a provision to end excessive overtime at the Nassau County jail.

A week before the proposed deal was announced, it was revealed that one Correction Officer earned $224,903 over the previous year with the help of 1,040 hours of overtime. The county also claims that the average officer earns $100,000 annually by supplementing his or her salary working overtime, an assertion the union vehemently denies.

The tentative deal provided a 20-percent raise over six years, starting with a 2.5 percent hike in 2005 and a 3.5 percent boost for each of the next five years.

But the accord was rejected by the State Legislature after it was revealed that Nassau's other unions had the ability to demand similar benefits under their "me-too" clauses. Changing all those deals could have cost the state an additional $140 million.