Lavine Calls For Police Probe After Alleged Corruption Case

Deepanshu Bedi

State Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has requested that the county Legislature’s Public Safety Committee look into corruption claims within the Nassau County Police Department after a detective allegedly accepted money in an illegal Mafia operation.

Lavine tweeted a copy of the letter he sent to Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park), the Nassau County Legislature’s presiding officer. In it, he says that Nassau residents have reason to be concerned when they suspect public officials of corruption.

Last month, the Department of Justice charged and arrested Hector Rosario, a detective with the Nassau County Police Department, for allegedly collecting money from a Lynbrook-based Mafia organization.

In exchange, they said he purportedly agreed to organize police raids on competing gaming establishments.

“I urge our County legislature to direct its Public Safety Committee with an investigation into these troubling allegations,” Lavine wrote.

He said that the Public Safety Committee is “uniquely qualified” to look into these allegations of corruption.

However, in a statement to Patch, Nicolello said he wouldn’t look into the matter.

“It would be absolutely improper for the Legislature to insert itself into an active federal investigation,” he said. “However, if Assemblyman Levine is so concerned with crime in New York he should consider repealing the dangerous bail reforms enacted by New York State Democrats.”

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