HEMPSTEAD — Following several violent incidents at the Nassau County Traffic & Parking Violations Agency, CSEA members employed there are increasingly concerned about understaffing in an often tense work environment.
“Residents who go there are angry,” said Nassau Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta. “They think that they are being wrongfully accused and don’t think they should have to pay the fines.”
One of the most high-profile incidents that occurred at the agency involved a resident who became violent in the courtroom. Because there was not enough staff to restrain the man after he became violent, a judge was forced to physically restrain him.
“When that fight broke out, we only had two public safety officers at the metal detectors and one roaming public safety officer,” said Laricchiuta. “There weren’t enough officers to restrain the resident. So other people had to get involved.”
Our members have been spit on, verbally abused and threatened.
It’s also a regular occurrence for public safety officers to confiscate knives from residents who go through the metal detectors.
On one occasion, there was only one officer working at the metal detector, with 150 people waiting to get into the agency. When a man tried to bring a knife into the agency, the officer confiscated it and promised the man that his knife would be returned when he left the building.
Soon after, the man demanded his knife back. When the officer asked him to wait a few minutes because he was tending to other people, the resident tried to retrieve the knife, nearly causing the officer and the man to get into a physical fight.
“That kind of thing goes on all day,” said Laricchiuta. “People who work there told me they are scared to death.”
“Ideally, we would have a public safety officer in the judges’ chambers, a roaming deputy sheriff who can be armed, and a few people at the metal detectors,” said Nassau County Local 830 Executive Vice President Ron Gurrieri.
Local 830 officers estimated that the agency sees about 1,000 county residents every day.
“There are too many people visiting that building to have so few officers working,” said Gurrieri.
“Our members’ health and safety is primary to us, but it’s not just about them,” said Laricchiuta. “If someone [becomes violent], people who are just there to pay their tickets could get hurt.”
Nassau County Local 830 officers have asked Nassau County officials for glass partitions to protect members from potential violence, which is something they have already been able to secure at the Department for Social Services, which is also at risk for potential violence.
They have also filed a health and safety grievance on behalf of the members and discussed our staffing and safety concerns with Nassau County legislators. County legislators who attended that meeting agreed that the lack of staffing is unacceptable.
Local officers say they also want to organize additional panel discussions, but it is taking more than the desired time due to scheduling conflicts and the need to carve out time to hear the concerns of other police department staff members.
“This is a county wide issue,” said Laricchiuta. “It’s getting to the point that we can’t secure the county properly due to inadequate staffing and funding.”
In addition to meeting with county officials and the grievance, local officers are planning to keep up the push for a safer workplace for our members and county residents, including adequate staffing.
“You shouldn’t try to save money in health and safety,” said Laricchiuta. “Sometimes you only get one chance and if we don’t have the right staff that one day, the results could be disastrous.”
— Wendi Bowie
