An uproar over the Nassau County Jail's deployment of kitchen staff - on posts staffed until recently by correction officers - reached as far as the state Capitol where Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Assemb. Michelle Schimel (D-N. Hempstead) sponsor legislation that would grant civilian jail employees peace-officer rights.
Tom Dunham, a Skelos spokesman, acknowledging the conflict between civilian and officer unions over the move, said: "We don't think this issue needs to be resolved in Albany. It should be resolved in Mineola." The bill was introduced at the request of CSEA Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta.
Bottom line: it hasn't advanced.
Dan Janison