Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Sands Point
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Friday, December 6, 2019
Vol. 4, No. 49
Port WashingtonTimes HOLIDAY GIFT & DINING GUIDE
GERMAIN RUNNING UNOPPOSED
SUOZZI CALLS FOR MILLER’S FIRING
PAGES 27-38
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
Police HQ a safety hazard, say Rice, chiefs
HO HO HOME
Sixty-year-old station house sees issues with electricity, sewer main BY R O S E W E L D ON The Port Washington Police District’s headquarters requires immediate changes for safety reasons for personnel and the public, according toPolice Commissioner Thomas Rice. On a tour of the building given to members of the press on Monday, Rice and two police chiefs discussed the headquarters’ issues at length. Located at 500 Port Washington Blvd., the headquarters occupies a former schoolhouse that the police moved into in 1959. With a growing population in the 1980s, the building saw some additions, Rice said, but not with the intended effects. “They added this disaster of a layout plan on to the building,” Rice said. The plan included a basement that saw a maze of fire-hazard hallways and placed personnel bathrooms close to the holding
area for defendants, with no public bathrooms. Upstairs, personnel have to walk single file through cramped rooms and offices, with electrical wires visible inside closets or in ceilings. Utilities don’t usually work either, Rice said. “The electrical is shot, the waste line is broken, and our gas line broke two weeks ago,” he said. “The electrical up in the ceiling, when you push the tile open, it starts sparking because there are wires that aren’t connected. It’s cold, the heat is on and that’s wasting power and electricity.” Assistant Chief Kevin McCarroll pointed out several instances where employees had to tape cardboard to the sides of ceiling vents that couldn’t be controlled, that the front walk’s wheelchair ramp was not Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, and that the public parking area in front of the headquarters could only hold ten Continued on Page 50
PHOTO BY ROSE WELDON
Santa Claus greets a young fan as part of Port Holiday Magic on Saturday, Dec. 2. See photos on pages 20 and 21.
Voters press on police headquarters at forum BY R O S E W E L D ON
Dec. 3. Incumbent Dave FrankThe Port Washington Po- lin, who has served three lice District’s headquarters was terms since his first election on the mind of residents at a in 2011, and challenger Frank forum for the district’s police T. Scobbo, whose father Frank commissioner candidates held J. Scobbo was the district’s
longest-serving commissioner, fielded questions from voters at the Port Washington Public Library, where they were hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset. Continued on Page 50
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