Port Washington Police District

Last updated
Port Washington Police District
PWPD Emblem, Port Washington, Long Island, New York.jpeg
Official Emblem of the PWPD
Common namePort Washington Police; Port Police
AbbreviationPWPD
Agency overview
FormedNovember 1921
Employees87
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction United States
Port Washington Police District Map.png
Map of Port Washington Police District's jurisdiction
Population~30,000 [1]
Legal jurisdictionMuch of the Greater Port Washington area
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters500 Port Washington Boulevard, Port Washington, NY 11050
Police officers63 (2021)
Agency executive
Facilities
Stations1
Vehicles37 (2021)
Website
portwashingtonpd.ny.gov

The Port Washington Police District (also known as the Port Washington Police & Port Police and abbreviated as PWPD) is a police district serving portions of the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, United States. It is the law enforcement agency serving the Incorporated Villages of Baxter Estates and Port Washington North – as well as nearly all of the hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) of Port Washington. [2]

Contents

The PWPD is the only special police district in New York state. [3]

History

The Port Washington Police District Headquarters on August 11, 2021. Port Washington Police District Headquarters, Port Washington, Long Island, New York August 11, 2021.jpg
The Port Washington Police District Headquarters on August 11, 2021.

The Port Washington Police District was established in November 1921, after an uptick in burglaries plagued the Greater Port Washington area, in addition to a large influx of new residents. [4] [5] [6] The first day of operations was January 1, 1922. [4] [5] [6]

In 1925, the creation of the Nassau County Police Department led to the New York State Attorney General Albert Ottinger voicing his opinion that all other special police districts in Nassau County be eliminated in favor of the NCPD. [4] The issue, which involved concerns of being double-taxed over police protection, led to the budget being held up that year. [4] [5] [6]

In 1933, the PWPD was officially recognized and legislated after the majority of voters in the Town of North Hempstead voted 4,086-to-2,221 in favor of keeping the district; the vote occurred on August 2, 1933. [4]

On May 28, 1934, Governor Herbert Lehman authorized the town board to appoint commissioners; the control over the district would then be given by the town board to the commissioners. It was on that day when the PWPD was declared a separate unit. [5] [6] [7]

In 1945, the Port Washington Police Athletic League was established. [4]

In 1979, the Nassau County District Attorney investigated the PWPD after the police chief revealed that the commissioner had been allowed to remain in his position despite failing the civil service exam three times. [3]

PWPD vehicles and officers on Main Street during a street festival in June 2023. Port Washington Police District Vehicles and Personnel on Main Street, Port Washington, NY June 15, 2023 A.jpg
PWPD vehicles and officers on Main Street during a street festival in June 2023.

In 1984, residents and officials in the Incorporated Village of Manorhaven debated whether or not the village should join the Port Washington Police District. [8] [9] If approved, the Port Washington Police District would have taken over the police services within the village from the Nassau County Police Department. [8] [9] Those in favor of the plan felt that the Port Washington Police District would be able to better serve the needs of the village, while opponents had concerns over potential tax increases as a result of joining the district. [8] Ultimately, Manorhaven decided to remain under the jurisdiction of the Nassau County Police Department, which, as of 2022, continues to provide the village with its police services. [2] [9]

Manorhaven had previously debated the same issue of whether or not to replace the NCPD with the PWPD in 1948; the outcome in 1948 was the same as the outcome in 1984, with the majority of village voters opting not to join the PWPD. [9] [10]

In the 1990s, the PWPD faced a series of lawsuits over gender and racial discrimination in hiring and promoting. [11] [12]

In 2020, district voters elected Brian G. Staley, Sr. as Police Commissioner; Staley became the first African American to serve on the district's Board of Commissioners. [12] [13] [14]

In 2021, the Port Washington Police District celebrated its centennial. [4] [15]

In 2022, the district received a state grant for implementation of license plate reading devices. [16]

Administration

As of February 2024, the Port Washington Police District's Chief of Police is Robert Del Muro, and the police district's Board of Commissioners consists of Angela Lawlor Mullins, JB Meyer, and Sean McCarthy. [4] [17] [18]

Statistics

As of 2021, the Port Washington Police District has 63 sworn police officers, 13 school crossing guards, three police dispatchers, one parking meter attendant, one school resource officer, and four civilian personnel – in addition to a traffic safety enforcement unit, narcotics unit, a juvenile aid bureau, a motorcycle unit, a bicycle unit, a detective division, and a community liaison; the department, as of 2021, employs a total of 87 people. [4]

Furthermore, as of 2021, the Port Washington Police District operates a fleet of 37 police vehicles – including two motorcycle units. [4]

Fallen officer

Since its inception in 1921, the Port Washington Police District has had one fallen officer: Elbert Stuyvesant. [19] [20] Stuyvesant died in the line of duty while trying to rescue a man at a Baxter Estates home on July 8, 1924; his death was caused by toxins emanating from the home's cesspool. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baxter Estates, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Baxter Estates is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 991 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flower Hill, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Flower Hill is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The eastern half is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Incorporated Village of Roslyn. Western and northern parts are more closely associated with Manhasset and Port Washington. The population was 4,794 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kensington, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Kensington is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 1,226 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Point, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Kings Point is a village located on the Great Neck Peninsula in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 5,005 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manorhaven, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Manorhaven is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 6,956 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munsey Park, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Munsey Park is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Manhasset area, which is anchored by Manhasset. The population was 2,809 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plandome, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Plandome is a village in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Manhasset area, which is anchored by Manhasset. The population was 1,448 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Washington, New York</span> Hamlet and CDP in Nassau County, New York

Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) on the Cow Neck Peninsula in the Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York. The hamlet is the anchor community of the Greater Port Washington area. The population was 16,753 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Washington North, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Port Washington North is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 3,154 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sands Point, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Sands Point is a village located at the tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula in the Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 2,675 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nassau County Police Department</span> Law enforcement agency of Nassau County, New York, US

The Nassau County Police Department is the law enforcement agency of Nassau County, on Long Island, New York, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach Police Department (New York)</span> Law enforcement agency

The Long Beach Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Long Beach, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It exclusively serves the City of Long Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Sillitti</span> New York politician

Gina Sillitti is an American Democratic Party politician who represents New York State Assembly district 16, which includes Port Washington, Manhasset, Great Neck, North Hills, East Hills, Flower Hill, Old Westbury, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Heights, Herricks and Lake Success of Nassau County on Long Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathmore, New York</span> Hamlet in New York, United States

Strathmore is an unincorporated, Levitt & Sons-developed hamlet in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States, within the census-designated place (CDP) of Manhasset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Washington Water Pollution Control District</span> Public sewer district in Nassau County, New York

The Port Washington Water Pollution Control District is a public sewer district in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. It serves the Greater Port Washington area of Long Island's North Shore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police Officer Michael J. Califano Memorial Bridge</span> Bridge in New York, United States

The Police Officer Michael J. Califano Memorial Bridge is a highway overpass in East Hills and Old Westbury in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. It carries Glen Cove Road over the Long Island Expressway. It is named in honor of Michael J. Califano, a police officer who was killed nearby in the line of duty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Washington Parking District</span>

The Port Washington Parking District is a special public parking district in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. It serves the Greater Port Washington area of Long Island's North Shore and is operated by the Town of North Hempstead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Washington Water District</span> Public water utility district on Long Island, New York

The Port Washington Water District is a public water utility district in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Port Washington Police District – Port Washington, NY". Police1. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Long Island Index: Interactive Map". www.longislandindexmaps.org. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  3. 1 2 Kavee, Rona (1979-10-21). "A Mystery: The Police Chief Case". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Andrea Mastrocinque-Martone (2021-08-19). "Police Centennial Sees Major Milestones In Port's Illustrious Past". Port Washington News. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Pitaro, Francesca (2006). "GUIDE TO THE PORT WASHINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLECTION" (PDF). Port Washington Public Library. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "PWPD History | Port Washington Police District NY" . Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  7. ↑ "LEHMAN VOTOES CANAL CLAIM BILL; Refuses to Extend Law Permitting Employes to Demand Increases in Wages. TWO MEASURES APPROVED Port Washington Police District Continued and Civil Service Act Amended". The New York Times. 1934-05-28. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  8. 1 2 3 English, Merle (August 1, 1984). "Debate on Police Divides Village". Newsday . p. 26 – via ProQuest.
  9. 1 2 3 4 English, Merle (September 24, 1984). "Village to Keep County Police Services". Newsday – via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ "Village May 'Secede' From County Cops". Newsday . July 28, 1943. pp. 3, 54 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ Saslow, Linda (1994-01-30). "Port Washington Police Enmeshed in Suits Contending Bias". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  12. 1 2 "Port Washington elects first Black police commissioner". Newsday. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  13. ↑ "Port Washington Police Commissioner Election: Staley Victorious". Port Washington, NY Patch. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  14. ↑ Pelaez, Robert (2021-12-15). "Incumbent commissioners retain seats in Port Washington special district elections - Featured". The Island Now. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  15. ↑ Staff, Port News (2021-07-17). "Celebrating The Port Police's 100th Anniversary". Port Washington News. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  16. ↑ Prisco, Julie (2022-11-11). "$1 Million Public Safety Initiative For Police Departments". Great Neck Record. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  17. ↑ "Organization | Port Washington Police District NY" . Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  18. ↑ "Commissioners | Port Washington Police District NY" . Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  19. 1 2 "Port Washington Police District, NY". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  20. 1 2 "Police Officer Elbert Stuyvesant". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2024-02-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.