Marine Unit Left High and Dry Awaiting Backup

Nassau County Police found themselves all alone on the high seas this week, confronting a man armed with a rifle and with back-up forces nowhere in sight.

Audio tapes of the incident obtained by Patch reveal that the U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to Nassau Marine Unit 20's call for backup and, at one point, appeared confused by Nassau's request for assistance.

The tapes reveal the complex nature of law enforcement on Long Island's waterfront and raise questions about whether bay constables are adequately equipped to do their jobs in increasingly dangerous situations, law enforcement experts told Patch.

The audio recordings, obtained through law enforcement sources, also reveal that bay constables from both North Hempstead and Oyster Bay responded when they realized the Coast Guard was not yet underway, even though neither agency was carrying firearms.

It took them about 10 minutes by boat to arrive at the scene at the mouth of Hempstead Harbor, where a clammer had leveled a rifle at a rival clam boat. The Coast Guard eventually responded with a vessel.

Had the incident occurred on land, cops would have responded from all over and at high speed to assist their brother in need. That's not possible on the water and again points to new challenges to law enforcement off Long Island's North Shore.

The audio exchange is riveting, even though it is delivered in clear, controlled voices.

About 8 a.m. Monday, Nassau Marine Unit 20, the only Nassau patrol boat on the North Shore, approaches a clam boat operator who had just leveled a rifle at a rival clammer. The clam boat fled the armed man and called 911.

Marine 20 radios the Coast Guard station at Kings Point twice, requesting backup for an incident on Hempstead Harbor. The Coast Guard acknowledges:

USCG: "Nassau Marine Police; this is the Coast Guard on Long Island Sound. Roger I will go ahead and contact (Coast Guard) Section New York."
NC Marine 20: "Any law enforcement vessel in the vicinity of Glen Cove on (Channel 16)."

Then, seconds later:

NC MARINE 20: (To Nassau Police) Check with Kings Point and see if they have a vessel responding to assist us with an incident off Glen Cove and on the Long Island Sound."
NC MARINE 20: Nassau Marine 20 (to Coast Guard); Do you have an ETA on your boat coming to assist us?"

USCG Kings Point: "Nassau Marine Police; this is the Coast Guard. I'm not quite sure what you are talking about. Assist you for what? Over."

In the background, a police officer is heard shouting "ah!" in frustration. The officers believed the Coast Guard was already underway.

At that point, Marine 20 tells the Coast Guard that the bay constables are on their way. Oyster Bay constables radio that their "ETA is 8-10 minutes." Marine 20 asks the Coast Guard: "Did you have a boat underway from Kings Point?"

It is not clear how or when the Coast Guard vessel arrived. Authorities said the Coast Guard did arrive as the arrest was taking place. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. (Read that story here.)

A spokesman for the Coast Guard Sector New York, responsible for most of Long Island Sound east of Hell Gate in the East River, said he was unaware of the incident, but would research the logs from Kings Point.

Nassau County Police Inspector Kenneth Lack said he could not discuss the incident and "could not comment on the Coast Guard and its procedures."

Coming Thursday: Patch continues its series about the danger on the waterfront. Hear the audio tapes and new details from experts.