Re Dec. 2 article, “Former police chief to accept prison sentence, sources say”: Kaczmarek is lucky with this plea deal. But let’s not let former Mayor Al Jurczynski off the hook. Jurczynski hired this man against all common sense and advice, effectively enabling Kaczmarek’s corrupt behavior. Kaczmarek proves by his plea agreement that he is and always has been a corrupt individual. Under his reign, Kaczmarek was responsible for establishing an atmosphere of limited, if any, accountability and responsibility within the police department. Kaczmarek’s loss of control of the department was so bad, and the lack of confidence in his leadership so low, that federal authorities had to investigate the department. Kaczmarek has brought, and continues to bring embarrassment to a onceproud department. Even worse, his atmosphere produced a senseless suicide by an officer [Patrolman William Marhafer], who felt he had disgraced himself and his profession. All brought by a foolish appointment of a non-deserving, corrupt, crony of Al Jurczynski. Mr. Jurczynski should not escape some of the blame here. JIM HATHAWAY Seattle, Wash. The writer is a former Scotia resident.
SCHENECTADY Kaczmarek to be matched to prison Evaluation to weigh health, safety issues to determine facility BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Former city Police Chief Gregory Kaczmarek will be behind bars for much of the next two years, but state prison officials expect to keep him safe. “We will take into consideration that he’s a former law enforcement employee and evaluate those needs and risks throughout the process,” state corrections spokeswoman Linda Foglia said Wednesday. “A more permanent facility could include a protective custody unit.” His daily routine will be arranged for him. Meals will be at set times. Shower times will be set. And a day’s work is worth $1.05. But his medical needs will have to be provided for. Kaczmarek pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony drug possession count, related to a drug ring that was busted this summer, taking down two dozen dealers, runners and users. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 2, along with his wife, Lisa Kaczmarek. She pleaded guilty to attempted drug possession and is to receive six months in the county jail. Her husband’s time will be spent in state prison. They both remain free awaiting their sentencings. On a two-year sentence, Greg Kaczmarek could satisfy his sentencing requirement in one year and five months, depending on his behavior while in custody. That time would begin running once he surrenders himself. Lisa Kaczmarek’s six-month sentence could be reduced to four months with good behavior, but no further than that, officials said. Prison jobs pay $1.05 per day, money that can go toward commissary items like stamps or snacks. Inmates can supplement that with their own money and can spend up to $50 over two weeks, Foglia said. In addition to the $1.05 per day, Kac- zmarek will also receive his state pension of $36,096 annually, offi - cials with the state Comptroller’s Office said. The pension for his police career is guaranteed and not affected by criminal convictions. As a former member of law enforcement, Greg Kaczmarek’s status will be taken into account when deciding where to house him, Foglia said. Kaczmarek’s attorney, Thomas O’Hern, expressed fears for the former chief on Tuesday. “He’s very concerned about that,” O’Hern said. “It’s a huge issue for him and we’re working on that. It’s a serious concern.” At least two former Schenectady police officers have spent time at the Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome, a medium security prison, records show. At the Schenectady County jail, Sheriff Harry Buffardi said an important step for inmates is classification. Many inmates have enemies, not just former officers. The trick is finding a grouping that works, he said. “The advantages [the state] has is they have so many more locations and so much more bed space,” Buffardi said. But if Buffardi’s plans work out, Greg Kaczmarek won’t be at the jail for long. He said he plans to reach out to Kaczmarek’s attorney in January to get a better idea of the former chief’s health problems. Once he’s in custody, he could be moved to the state’s custody quicker. Both his and his wife’s first few days in the jail will be lonely ones, Buffardi said. Each inmate brought in is put in isolation while they are being classified. That’s 23 hours per day in a cell, with an hour for recreation and a shower. That typically lasts about 72 hours and allows officials time to determine whether inmates are risks and whether they have any infectious diseases. “We will treat him like any other inmate,” Buffardi said. “He won’t get any better treatment, he won’t get any worse treatment.” If Kaczmarek has to stay longer, Buffardi said he might have to send him to another local jail, one where he is less well-known. As a former member of law enforcement, he would generally be seen by inmates “as a member of the other team,” Buffardi said. But, with health issues in mind, “we’ll put him on the rush list” for state prison. Kaczmarek’s tenure as police chief from 1996 until 2002 also saw four officers go to federal prison in 2002 after an FBI investigation. A U.S. Justice Department civil rights investigation has never been formally closed. Kaczmarek’s first state destination will be the Downstate Correctional Facility in ............................................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00102
What happened to the Rockefeller Laws? Mr. Kaczmarek and his wife were given a fraction of the time that the average kid caught with a little crack has to serve. The Kaczmareks have been buying and selling cocaine for years; they were not small fry.
What a sham sham sham......unless.....unless.......there was infiltration and other lofty goals on the catch.....?bigger fish yet on the line and not reeled in?...........
let's see if all this $$ spent has a high value......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
And just think....OJ is getting at least 15 years for theft!
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
My office has received a number of inquiries this week from citizens operating under the misconception that the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office handled the prosecution of former Schenectady police chief Gregory Kaczmarek, his wife and their co-conspirators in a drug distribution ring. In fact, the New York State Attorney General's Office has handled all aspects of this case from its outset, because the case arose from a multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Task Force, which is part of the attorney general's office. My office's only involvement has been to authorize the attorney general to present evidence to a Schenectady County grand jury. Inquiries or concerns about the case may be directed to the Attorney General's Public Information Offi ce (473-5525), Organized Crime Task Force (914-422-8700) or General Helpline (1-800-771-7755). ROBERT M. CARNEY Schenectady The writer is district attorney for Schenectady County.
Former Schenectady Mayor Al Jurczynski has said the drug conviction of Greg Kaczmarek was "like a bad dream" because he appointed him police chief.
Jurczynski made the pick even though Kaczmarek was known privately as Sgt. Snow and Lt. Noriega in connection with rumors he was a drug user.
Among many trying to dissuade Jurczynski from making the move was the late Charlie Mills. When he was Schenectady police commissioner, Mills was Kaczmarek's boss. He contended the mere perception of drug use should disqualify Kaczmarek from department command.
Mills had depth as a leader, including many years as assistant chief of the New York City Transit Police. Jurczynski rejected Mills' plea and the rest is history.
Jurczynski last week said he "wasn't thrilled'' with any of three assistant chiefs eligible for promotion. However, he insisted Kaczmarek was the best of the trio.
Kaczmarek retired under pressure and turned out to be a disgrace. The other two candidates retired honorably.
B4 anyone gets appointed to a position of power in the police department or any other position of authority they should be made to take a drug test. If you drive a truck on the road for which carries hazardous materials or explosive gases you can be randomly checked by the state for drugs or alcohol why not the police department they're carrying guns.
WOW...Carney sure wants to wash his hands of this one, huh? There was also a small blurb in the gazette today, which I readat work, about a guy who got 4 1/2yrs in prison for selling drugs. And Kaz and wife gets what...?????
One thing is for sure....the people obviously are NOT happy with this verdict! Kaz and wife, when they get out, will have to relocate.
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
Yeah, they'll relocate hopefully along with their clients who live around here.....I bet they're all pretty pissed and jonesing now.....although, I'm sure there is another salesman to 'move up' the ladder......they must be well organized and Mr.Kaz didn't seem too sorry for his misbehavior and the 'disgrace'?
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Juror's comments threaten verdict New revelation provides more fuel for motion to overturn conviction
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Friday, December 12, 2008
SCHENECTADY A speedy verdict in an attempted murder trial might be voided because of alleged remarks a juror made to the prosecutor about her "captivating beauty", and that his vote to convict the defendant was based on race.
The issue surfaced during a hearing Wednesday in the case of Michael Estella, 23, who is awaiting sentencing for a July conviction on attempted murder and a raft of other offenses.
The jury took only three hours to find Estella guilty of firing seven shots into the crowded Olympic Diner in 2006, striking three people with whom he had argued earlier. But his defense lawyer has filed a motion to vacate the conviction based on juror Edward Leahy's alleged comments to Assistant District Attorney Amy Burock after the trial. The motion also alleges that Leahy may have been intoxicated while making comments to the prosecutor.
Immediately after the verdict the judge in the case called a post-trial meeting. At that time another juror told attorneys and the judge for the first time that video surveillance footage from the eatery showed what he believed to be a "muzzle flash" from a gun.
Estella's lawyer, Adam Parisi said he and the others were "blindsided" by the new revelation and it became the initial basis for a motion he later filed seeking to overturn the verdict.
"The reason this was an issue was because there was never any expert or lay testimony that this white area was a muzzle flash and the prosecutor never argued that section (of recording) showed a muzzle flash," he said. "I'm not conceding it's a muzzle flash."
As part of the motion, Parisi submitted affidavits, triggering calls by both he and Burock to some of the jurors.
At issue, was whether one of the jurors, an admitted gun enthusiast, avid hunter and gun trader, improperly influenced other members of the panel about the purported muzzle flash.
During the course of a conversation, Burock said Leahy told her a dozen times that he was "distracted" by her "captivating beauty" and found himself "counting the ceiling tiles" during the trial, according to court papers.
Asked if the muzzle flash factored into the jury's decision-making, Leahy told Burock, "I guess, I based my (decision) on race," according to the motion. Estella is black. The juror is white and could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
Burock called him back a few days later to alert him she would be notifying the judge of his comments at which time he advised her he "had a few drinks" during the earlier conversation and was not a "bigot."
He went on to say he had watched an Oct. 15 presidential debate and was impressed with Barack Obama, comments he repeated in testimony Wednesday during a hearing on the matter.
On Thursday, Burock said she was "shocked' by the man's comments during what she characterized as a "bizarre" conversation.
Ex-chief admits to drug counts Case in which Kaczmarek pleaded guilty is No. 10 for '08
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Monday, December 22, 2008
SCHENECTADY — For years, ex-Police Chief Gregory T. Kaczmarek dodged rumors of illicit drug use while he was a cop.
On Dec. 2, Kaczmarek stood before a judge and admitted his role in a drug distribution ring that pumped cocaine and heroin from Long Island to the Schenectady streets he once patrolled.
"Anything that I have done should really not have any impact on the Schenectady Police Department or people in law enforcement in general," Kaczmarek told reporters that day.
"There's a lot of men and women in law enforcement working hard to do the right thing, and if my actions have made their job more difficult, I truly and sincerely apologize."
The plea was the culmination of a yearlong state attorney general's investigation into the drug operation. It eventually led to the arrest of Kaczmarek, his wife, stepson and nearly two dozen other people connected to the drug enterprise.
Kaczmarek, 56, was long plagued with whispered allegations of past drug use — he denounced the rumors at a news conference shortly before he was appointed chief in 1996 — and his wife was arrested months before the state charged him with drug possession and conspiracy.
But Kaczmarek's arrest and subsequent guilty plea to drug possession were startling because they illustrated that in a city plagued by drug dealing and its inherent violence, even a one-time police chief was involved in the underworld that made the city so dangerous.
He and his wife, Lisa Kaczmarek, are to be sentenced Feb. 2 on what his attorney has called a "family plan" that keeps Lisa out of prison. She will serve six months in the county jail; he is expected to go to prison for two years. He also will surrender his police badge, any weapons he has and his nursing license, but will keep his police pension.
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