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Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, Roslyn Heights, and Searingtown

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Friday, December 23, 2016

Vol. 65, No. 52

NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE

COPS ARREST SWASTIKA SUSPECT

NIFA OKAYS COUNTY BUDGET

PAGES 31-42

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Average cop’s pay in Nassau twice NYPD’s Salary needed to maintain highly educated force, department says BY J OE N I K I C Nassau County Police Department employees earned an average salary last year that was more than double the average for the New York Police Department. According to data compiled by the Empire Center for Public Policy, the average pay for Nassau Police Department employees was $150,292 compared with the $73,676 average pay for NYPD employees. Suffolk County Police Department employees earned an average salary of $161,463, about 7 percent higher than Nassau Police Department employees, which is the highest average of any county or city in the state. The NYPD has a total of 65,868 employees, while the Nassau Police Department and Suffolk Police Department employ 2,344 people and 2,397 people, respectively, according to the Empire Center. The starting salary for a police

officer in Nassau is $34,000, said Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun, commanding officer of the department’s Public Information Office. After nine years of service, LeBrun said, police officers reach their maximum salary of $120,000, not including overtime or benefits. NYPD officers reach their top salary of $78,026 after five and a half years of service, according to the NYPD recruitment website. LeBrun said Nassau has a “very well-trained, very well-educated” department, and provides an education stipend to pursue an advanced degree. He also said the Police Department has doctors, lawyers, psychologists and those with a master’s degree serving as police officers. “The salary has to be attractive enough for a very educated person to take the job,” LeBrun said. “That person will stay because of the fact that they’re compensated for their training.” Continued on Page 57

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKIE WILLIAMS

Friendly giving A group of friends from Mineola and Williston Park raised more than $1,400 for charity through their “#FriendsWhoGive” campaign. See story on page 54.

Community responds after firefighter’s death at 43 her mother’s death, and two days after the anniversary of her father’s death. Family members are still Keith Rumm’s Dec. 9 death made that week even harder for waiting to learn exactly why his wife, Kelly, she said — the day Rumm, a 43-year-old Williston was also the 11th anniversary of Park native and volunteer fire-

BY N O A H MANSKAR

fighter, died after collapsing in the living room of their home that night. As they await answers, the community Keith Rumm loved and supported has come together Continued on Page 57

For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow


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