SCHENECTADY Police discipline hearings scheduled Stalled court action drives city decision BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The city is done with waiting. This week, officials scheduled disciplinary hearings for every police officer facing termination — even Dwayne Johnson, whose criminal case has not yet gone before a grand jury. The district attorney’s office has been preparing that case for months. The other cases involve officers who were charged criminally long ago but have not yet had their day in court. The city had originally intended to wait until the courts took action. But after two Albany Law School professors criticized the officers’ unusually long court delays — and suggested that local judges are deliberately withholding action in those cases — the city decided to move. “We’re not going to wait for the criminal cases at this point,” Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said. “We’re going to proceed with all of these.” Hearing Officer Jeffrey M. Selchick will hear the new cases after finishing hearings this year for officers John Lewis, Darren Lawrence, Gregory Hafensteiner and Andrew Karaskiewicz. The new cases may not be fi nished until the spring. ..................>>>>....................>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00100&AppName=1
If the judges don't have to decide the fate of the officers they won't suffer any lose of votes from the police union, their family and friends, and the Conserv Party.
SCHENECTADY Police officer’s criminal trial slated for next month BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.com.
One of the pending criminal cases against a suspended city police officer will finally make it to trial next month, officials said Monday. Officer John Lewis, who city officials are trying to fire through an ongoing disciplinary hearing, is to face a criminal trial on one count of second-degree criminal contempt Dec. 21 in City Court. The trial is to be before City Court Judge Guido Loyola and be decided by him rather than a jury. Lewis defense attorney Michael Horan on Monday requested and received a bench trial in the matter, officials said. Prosecutors also sought and received an extension of an order of protection granted after Lewis’ Nov. 10, 2008, arrest on stalking and aggravated harassment counts. The new order of protection is to extend another year, or until the stalking case is resolved, prosecutor Matthew Sypniewski said. The December trial is over allegations that Lewis phoned his estranged wife on June 10, 2008, at her place of employment, saying that he was going there. Five hours later, at Eastern Avenue and McClellan Street, Lewis allegedly drove by her and called her cellphone, according to papers filed in court. The trial will come more than 18 months after the initial allegations. ..........................>>>>...................................>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01002&AppName=1
Who is going to pursue justice with Sch’dy cops, when?
The repeated postponement of termination proceedings for at least four Schenectady police officers has in some cases extended almost three years, according to the Nov. 6 Daily Gazette. One individual who is alleged to have two DWIs, as well as fleeing the scene of an accident to avoid a Breathalyzer test and, perhaps, intimidating a witness, is receiving over $1,100 per week in paid leave! More recently, the Nov. 20 frontpage article by Kathleen Moore stated that two Albany Law School professors criticized “the officers’ unusually long court delays — and suggested that local judges are deliberately withholding action in these cases ... .” Furthermore, it was stated that one of the aforementioned cases has not yet come before a grand jury. This would not be the case if the situation involved an ordinary citizen rather than a police officer awaiting a disciplinary hearing. The anticipation of a disciplinary hearing in no way replaces the standard judicial process relating to alleged criminal behavior, whether in regard to the chronological order of the two processes (court action and hearing) and certainly whether the result of a pre-existing disciplinary hearing has any bearing on the outcome of a delayed, but awaited judicial process. Ordinary citizens receive no disciplinary hearing before a grand jury inquiry. There should be one standard of justice for both citizens and law enforcement officers. This letter is not a diatribe against the Schenectady police. That matter will unravel itself in the future and pinpoint only those who have undermined the department, not the majority of excellent police. The good individuals can expect enhanced respect after the issues are resolved. Nor is this letter a criticism of the district attorney or the city administration and its attorney. It appears to me that some local judges are trying to evade their responsibilities, for political reasons, by allowing administrative law judges to do the heavy lifting in handling the potentially criminal matters through a disciplinary hearing rather than normal court proceedings as mandated by grand jury indictments. Perhaps it is now appropriate for concerned citizens and taxpayers to call for outside judicial oversight — perhaps in the form of the attorney general or chief judge — to untangle this obvious, urgent and ever-more-expensive problem. This situation points to a preposterous and unacceptable defect in governmental authority that can no longer be tolerated or ignored.
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
SCHENECTADY -- For years, Detective Sgt. Arthur Zampella grabbed headlines as the highest-earning city employee. But to co-workers, the good-natured cop, who will retire Dec. 4, stands out for his diligence investigating some of the Youth Aid Bureau's most disturbing abuse cases. Current and former bosses said Zampella was available for duty at any hour when they needed quick action on a complaint.
Assistant Chief Brian Kilcullen lauded Zampella's dedication.
SCHENECTADY City cop hearing nears end Ex-wife called to testify BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
The internal disciplinary hearing that city officials hope will end in the firing of often-arrested Offi cer John Lewis could wrap up soon. This past week, Lewis’ now-ex-wife testified in the case against her ex-husband after city officials successfully got a judge to order her to do so through a judicial subpoena. Allison Fitz, also known by her married name Allison Lewis, had initially, through her attorney, refused to testify in the disciplinary hearing. Her ex-husband has been arrested five times, each arrest resulting in its own department disciplinary charge. Three of the incidents relate directly to Fitz. Filed along with the judicial hearing request were copies of the disciplinary charges against Lewis. They mirror the criminal charges filed against him, including stalking and harassing Fitz, making death threats against her, violating orders of protection, driving drunk and criminal mischief. The disciplinary charges include failure to obey laws, conduct bringing discredit to the department, violating the law and insubordination. .................>>>>..................>>>>................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY City police officer pleads to DWI but will keep job BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net.
A city police officer demoted in the wake of a December 2008 drunken driving arrest admitted in court Friday that he drove drunk. Joseph A. Peters IV, a 10-year veteran, pleaded guilty before City Court Judge Vincent Versaci to one count of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Peters is to receive a $500 fine and must complete a victim impact program and a seven-week drunk driving program. If he completes those sessions successfully, Peters likely won’t lose his driving privileges, something afforded to first-time offenders, his attorney Steve Kouray said. The final decision on his license would be up to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Peters admitted in court that he drove drunk on Guilderland Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 2008, while off-duty. He was arrested that day after a caller told police a man at the Stewart’s Shop on Broadway was possibly intoxicated. The caller had followed the man there. Peters was one of several officers facing charges in unrelated cases, with some facing termination. Peters’ rank was reduced from sergeant to officer in the aftermath of the arrest and he lost seniority. But it was determined that he would keep his job. .....................>>>>.........................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01002&AppName=1
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY COUNTY City, county hoping to recruit diverse candidates for police jobs BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
City and county officials are stepping up efforts to recruit minorities and women for jobs in the Police and Sheriff’s departments through a first-ever information session Thursday at Schenectady County Community College. Affirmative Action Director Miriam Cajuste, who works for both the city and county, said the purpose of the event is to give SCCC students ample time to prepare for upcoming civil service tests, which can lead to jobs in local law enforcement. A civil service exam will be offered in November 2010 for the road patrol of the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department and for positions in the Schenectady Police Department, and a civil service exam will be offered in April 2010 for corrections officers at the county jail. A person has to have acquired 30 credit hours at a college to take the first exam, while a person needs only a high school degree and driver’s license to take the corrections officers’ exam, Cajuste said. For the first exam, “they can register in January and meet the 30-credit qualifications by December,” Cajuste said. ..........................>>>>....................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01201&AppName=1
Why do we need to 'step up efforts' to entice minorities? What constitutes a minority these days? Women? My wife would beg to differwith you on that one. She does NOT consider herself or any woman a minority.
And will someone explain to me WHY there still are so called 'minorities'? That issue was dealt with over 30-40 years ago. My guess is....they are just more special interest groups that beg the government for money....eg: ACORN!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY Police hearings near wrap-up of first phase Findings on misconduct charges due in March BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
After legal wrangling that forced many officers in the Police Department to testify against their comrades, the city’s first police misconduct hearings are nearly over. Officer Darren Lawrence’s case has concluded. Officer John Lewis’ case will be finished in a marathon session on Dec. 29 and 30. Officer Gregory Hafensteiner’s case ends Thursday. And then the hearing officer, Jeffrey M. Selchick, will spend two months deciding their fate. He said he expects to issue his written recommendations by March for Lewis and Lawrence, followed in mid-March by Hafensteiner and possibly Officer Andrew Karaskiewicz. Lawrence stands accused of two incidents, both of which occurred long ago. He has been paid to stay home from work for more than a year since he was allegedly involved in a brawl at the Manhattan Exchange on Union Street. Prior to that, he was accused of driving drunk in Colonie, crashing, and then beating his passenger to prevent the man from reporting the accident. .............................>>>>................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01201&AppName=1
More areas of Schenectady go under the lens Federal funds will allow city of Schenectady to expand its anti-crime surveillance effort
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published in print: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
SCHENECTADY -- The city has received federal homeland security money to increase its inventory of street cameras to almost 70. The cameras, hung on utility poles in seven neighborhoods, have been used for about five years as a crime deterrent in addition to providing video evidence in drug, robbery and homicide cases.
Nine new cameras, paid for with a $125,000 Urban Area Safety Initiative grant, will be posted by next spring around Van Vranken Avenue and on the city's north side, where they will record activity around the city's future public works complex on Foster Avenue, the sewer treatment plant on Anthony Street and Freemans Bridge leading to Glenville.
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