New headquarters talk leads Port police debate

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New headquarters talk leads Port police debate
The headquarters of the Port Washington Police District. During a commissioner debate on Tuesday, incumbent Frank Scobbo and challenger JB Meyer discussed finding a new location for the district. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

The Port Washington Police District’s ongoing search for a new headquarters dominated Tuesday’s commissioner debate between incumbent Frank Scobbo and challenger JB Meyer.

The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset hosted the event at the Port Washington Public Library. The police district has a three-member board of commissioners, each of whom serves a three-year term. Their terms are staggered so that a seat becomes available for election each year.

When asked to name their top issues, both candidates mentioned the headquarters search. Even as the discussion topics shifted throughout the event, it often returned to the potential new home for the district.

“We’re all looking at a lot of different possibilities,” said Scobbo. “And I think that there’s a lot of work that has to be done with that. There’s a big difference between needs, wants, nice to haves and fiscal responsibility, so we’re obviously watching that as well.”

Scobbo was elected in 2020. He is the owner of Frank Scobbo Contractors in Port Washington. From 1969 to 1995, his father, Frank J. Scobbo, was also a commissioner for the district.

He said the greatest accomplishments during his tenure include starting a court system, a community affairs liaison position dedicated to community outreach and a state-recognized drone unit.

Scobbo said the district has a building committee, of which he is not a member but works with.

“I’m not on the committee, but the committee did entertain me in 2020 when I found a facility that was 80,000 square feet,” he said. “I found a separate facility again in 2021 and [another] separate facility again that’s around 25,000 square feet. We’re all looking at a lot of different possibilities.”

Scobbo said that if he can propose alternative means and methods that will save taxpayer dollars while achieving what is required for the district’s safety, he will do so.

Meyer said the current building is approximately 7,000 square feet and that 25,000 square feet should accommodate the district. He used $30 million as a potential cost (without grants) in his example, which he said would cost the average taxpayer an extra $120.

He also stressed that any new building should be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold or platinum certified. This requires addressing environmental quality.

“It’s simply not safe for the officers or civilians to operate out of the current headquarters,” he said. “And it should not be done on the current one — we need a new site. I think there are some sites that are out there and hopefully, we can do it.”

Meyer also owns a Port business, Chief Graphix, which he runs with his wife, Abigail. He worked on Wall Street for over a decade and was an All-American lacrosse goalie at the University of Virginia.

He said his leadership background can benefit the community and the headquarters initiative.

“They’ve been talking about this building for many, many, many years,” said Meyer. “I don’t think it’s that difficult. I think we have to find a spot. We got to commit to it and we got to work on it and get it done. It hasn’t gotten done and I think it’s time to bring it forward. I will make a new building happen.”

Another issue that came up during the building discussion was transparency.

Meyer said interacting with community members has helped him understand what a commissioner needs to be like.

“[The community] needs a solid voice of reason,” he said. “Someone who is approachable and someone who really cares about the safety of the community. We are currently focused, in my opinion, on the wrong things. Let’s focus on basic policing and making it better.”

Meyer said he would take the building committee meetings out of executive session for the public.

Scobbo said the committee sometimes goes into private sessions because of real estate-related matters. But he said transparency is “key more than ever” and that community input is important, especially concerning the building situation.

“We are a special district and I don’t mean that in our name,” said Scobbo. “But I mean that in how we embrace everybody and we work with everybody and so you have to take an extra step above and beyond to be transparent and to let everybody know.”

Scobbo said that if re-elected, he will propose revamping the building committee. He also believes he should be a member.

The election will be on Dec. 13 at the Polish American Hall in Port Washington from noon to 9 p.m. Applications for absentee ballots are also available at the police headquarters.

 

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