Dear Chief Walters:

On behalf of the residents of Manorhaven and myself, I want to tell you how much we appreciate the great work the men and women of the Port Washington Fire Department did on December 17, 2007 while responding to the water main break on Cambridge Avenue. Your professionalism and expertise was of the highest quality.

Chief Cole and his firefighters could not have done a better job dealing with the cold, ice and the volume of water that was on the roads that 23-degree morning. Your Department's cooperation with the Nassau County Police, The Port Washington Water Department and the Village staff was nothing more then remarkable.

Each year that I have been Mayor, I have set aside a week each fall to recognize the Department's great work for the community. Of course I intend to do so again. If I can be of any help to you or the Department at any time please do not hesitate to call on me.

Please wish each and every member of the Department a Happy and Healthy New Year for me.

If you want to discuss this or any other issue, I am at your disposal.

Respectfully, Nicholas B. Capozzi

I'm writing to you because I am concerned about two incidents that recently occurred on Firwood Road. I'm sure you all heard about the beating of a 22-year-old man that occurred on November 24, 2007.

After speaking with Inspector Williams of the Nassau County Police we now know that three people have been arrested and will have to answer to very serious charges. The man who was beaten is still in the hospital. It seems that this incident happened because of an internal squabble between gang members. We know that the people involved all live in the Village. All three have previously been cited with summonses for a number of other infractions even before the beating incident.

The second incident occurred about a week later. At first the investigators thought it might be a related incident. A group of men mugged a delivery person on Firwood near Ford Place. The police have no leads on that case. I'm writing to you because I'd rather you hear about this from me rather than the "Street Gossip" that has been circulating. People are saying that the police are not doing their job or that the Mayor is at fault. I want to keep you informed. Patrols have been beefed up. You will probably not see it but plainclothes officers and unmarked cars have been added.

Please understand that no one is more concerned than the Nassau County Police or myself. The reality is that we have a very quiet Village with much less crime than many other Villages, although even one incident is too many. Please be assured that your police department is doing the best possible job they can. They have been writing a great number of summonses not only for vehicular infractions but Quality of Life Issues. Each month the court issues a report of what tickets have been written, you may at any time call for a copy of that report.

Please continue to go about your daily business. Do not be afraid to order pizza or other delivered food. It was coincidence that two incidents happened a week or two apart. Please do not become part of the Rumor Mill that always seems to make this type of problem POLITICAL. No matter who sits in the Mayor's seat or no matter how many police patrols we have, this type of thing can happen. Please understand that we all want things like this to stop, and we will do what ever we need to do to stop any unrest that occurs.

If you want to discuss this or any other issue, I am at your disposal.

Respectfully, Nicholas B. Capozzi