It is with a degree of astonishment that I read the article published in the Oct. 9 edition regarding the PBA endorsement and the two candidates for Nassau County District Attorney.
As a former prosecutor (Queens, 1987-1991) and a criminal defense attorney since then, I have experience on both sides of the aisle.
Applying that experience to the reasons for the Nassau County PBA endorsement of Kate Murray, I am left in disbelief at the reported statement of PBA President Carver, that “…Singas promotion of her efforts to prosecute police officers in the county made it harder for him to believe the union could establish a strong working relationship with her DA’s office.”
Does this mean that rank and file Nassau County Police officer’s can only have a “strong working relationship” with a DA who turns a blind eye when they commit crimes?
The basis for this endorsement is what is in the best interest of individual police officers.
The PBA is tasked with protecting it’s members.
It does not exist to protect the public, and no one faults it for that. But as an organization, it should refrain from political involvement cloaked in pretext of acting for the public good.
It is clearly not objective, and it’s endorsement is motivated by self-interest, and not what is best for the public.
As a taxpayer, I prefer an independent prosecutor who is above the politics of prosecution.
DA Singas freely investigates her own house, without concern of offending or losing endorsements. Her office investigates wrongdoing, regardless of the political cost of losing an endorsement.
That is the definition of a public servant, as opposed to a politician.
We need more people in office like her, concerned about doing their job, rather than keeping their job.
She gets my vote.
Laurence Rothstein
Great Neck
