The Nassau County Legislature unanimously approved a measure on Monday that provides police officers with a $3,000 annual stipend to wear body cameras.
The Republican-controlled Legislature voted to approve the measure set forth by County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat, to reform policing, as required by state officials after the death of George Floyd last year.
In a statement, Curran said, “I thank the Legislature for approving this important tool – together we are moving Nassau County one step closer to greater transparency in policing.”
In late May, Curran announced the purchase of 2,500 body cameras for officers at a cost of $5 million. The agreement between the county and the union would provide officers with the $3,000 annual stipend, with 26 payments made to officers throughout the year.
Officials said the agreement would cost Nassau taxpayers an additional $8 million annually, an increase of $3 million from an estimate Curran announced in May. The county selected Ronkonkoma-based Island Tech Services to provide the camera technology and handle training and technical support.
Despite the agreement, the county and its Police Benevolent Association are still negotiating a contract. In December, the union rejected a contract that would provide police officers with a 25 percent raise over 8 1/2 years along with the annual body camera stipend.
Union President James McDermott said the proposed contract was defeated Dec. 23 by 143 votes, according to Newsday. According to a statement he provided to Newsday, McDermott said the use of body cameras “will only showcase the outstanding professionalism of Nassau County Police Officers and reaffirm to the public the dangers faced by our members as they continue to sacrifice their own health, safety, and well-being to ensure Nassau is the safest place to live in America.”
Nassau County spends $1,148 per capita on police and fire protection while the national median is $359, according to a U.S. News & World report this year that deemed Nassau County the safest community in America. Public safety professionals account for 1.26 percent of the county’s population, compared with the national median of 0.70 percent.
Efforts to reach McDermott or another representative of the union for comment were unavailing.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the body cameras will begin to appear on all patrol officers in one precinct by September before the initiative expands across the department by the end of the year. First Deputy Commissioner Kevin Smith told Newsday that he anticipates the 8th Precinct and parts of the 5th Precinct will roll out body cameras sometime in September.
