Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today said he will veto a legislative resolution that “seeks to cede control of the police department to the union,” and cited statements and actions at yesterday’s general meeting as “proof positive that Public Safety Chairman Jack Eddington and other union-friendly legislators would give away the store if they could.”

“…and I actually feel good when you say you give it away because what you’re telling me is the bullying techniques will not be allowed to be used, and I’m happy with that.” Legislator Jack Eddington (June 8, 2010)

“It is wonderful that Jack ‘feels good’ about giving away control, but I certainly don’t, and I won’t” said Levy. “There is a reason we have collective bargaining -- to represent the taxpaying public at the negotiating table. That should be Legislator Eddington’s primary concern as well, rather than coddling the PBA and protecting their feelings from our big, bad negotiators.”

Eddington’s remarks came yesterday during testimony on I.R. 1164, which mandates legislative approval for the transfer of, changes in, or elimination of services, responsibilities and commands performed by the police department.

Levy administration officials pointed out that through negotiations, county taxpayers received $12 million worth of concessions from the PBA in 2009 in exchange for an agreement on maintaining certain units and commands for a fixed amount of time – authority that the legislation would give away in perpetuity. Eddington labeled the county’s successful collective bargaining approach as “bullying.”

“I’m not a lawyer, I’m a social worker. I despise that type of negotiations [sic]….” Legislator Jack Eddington (June 8, 2010)

“Last time I checked, the PBA is well-represented at the bargaining table by five union officials who are paid top-step police officer salaries, benefits and full perks worth more than $180,000 a year despite not doing an hour’s worth of police work, and by highly paid union counsel,” Levy continued.

“Management, not the unions, should run the department. Management, not the unions, should determine where personnel are deployed. And if we are going to cede some of that authority, it should only come at the bargaining table after the union has provided something to give back, in the form of rule changes or salary and benefit concessions,” he concluded.

Legislator Eddington had defended I.R. 1164 by saying the legislature would not interfere or micromanage police management.

“…and if it’s the right thing, I don’t see 18 legislators giving you a hard time.” Legislator Jack Eddington (June 8, 2010)

Yet, Levy noted, just hours after I.R. 1164 was passed, the Legislature voted to table a resolution which had already moved through committee unanimously to civilianize one position at the firing range in Westhampton, and also refused to take immediate action on establishing a Spanish-speaking police officer position.

“Ironically, hours later, the Legislature was back to its routine distrust of any initiative undertaken by the commissioner or the executive branch to make the department more efficient, which only goes to show you how far backwards it would bend for the PBA if I.R. 1164 is allowed to stand,” he said.

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