Schenectady detective suspected of prescription drug abuse Monday, January 19, 2009 By Steven Cook (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — The city police youth aid detective suspended over the weekend is being investigated for possible prescription drug abuse, sources confirmed today. Sherri Barnes, on the force since at least the mid-1990s, is suspected of illegally obtaining the prescription drugs for personal use. She is not suspected of forging prescriptions, but obtaining them by other means, sources said. Barnes was placed on paid leave Saturday by the Schenectady Police Department. She has not been charged with a crime. Barnes is a detective in the department’s youth aid bureau, which deals with juvenile crime. Barnes is being represented by attorney Paul DerOhannesian. This afternoon, he declined to directly respond to the allegations, noting no formal charges have been lodged. Barnes was not notified of why she was placed on leave. “There’s a reason she has been commended as an officer,” DerOhannesian said. “She is a fine cop and a wonderful person.” “Once the facts are brought out,” he added, “without rumors and speculation, there will be an understanding of Detective Barnes and why this is where it is at this moment.” Barnes’ husband, Donald Barnes, is also a member of the force. Barnes has won at least one commendation in her tenure, an exceptional duty award for a November 1997 hostage situation. She was one of several officers to receive the commendation related to the peaceful resolution of the 1997 Paulding Street incident, records show. She’s also been....................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jan/19/011909BARNES/
Channel 13, for the first time, did some investigative reporting tonight. They actually interviewed some schenectady residents who were complaining about all of the police officers that are currently suspended WITH PAY. It was a pretty in depth report.
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 Sources: Officer probed over drugs Youth bureau detective suspended with pay BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.com.
The city police youth aid detective suspended over the weekend is being investigated for possible prescription drug abuse, sources confirmed Monday. Sherri Barnes, on the force since at least the mid-1990s, is suspected of illegally obtaining the prescription drugs for personal use. She is not suspected of forging prescriptions, but obtaining them by other means, sources said. Barnes was placed on paid leave Saturday by the Schenectady Police Department. She has not been charged with a crime. Barnes is a detective in the department’s youth aid bureau, which deals with juvenile crime. Barnes is being represented by attorney Paul DerOhannesian. Monday afternoon, he declined to directly respond to the accusations, noting no formal charges have been lodged. Barnes was not notified of why she was placed on leave. “There’s a reason she has been commended as an officer,” DerOhannesian said. “She is a fine cop and a wonderful person.” “Once the facts are brought out,” he added, “without rumors and speculation, there will be an understanding of Detective Barnes and why this is where it is at this moment.” Barnes’ husband, Donald Barnes, is also a member of the force. City police have only confi rmed that Sherri Barnes was place on paid leave. A department spokesman, Officer Kevin Green, said Monday there would be no further comment until an investigation is complete. Barnes has won at least one commendation in her tenure, an exceptional duty award for a November 1997 hostage situation. She was one of several officers to receive the commendation related to the peaceful resolution of the 1997 Paulding Street incident, records show. She’s also been injured on the job. She suffered injuries to her knee and wrists while arresting Kendall Spraragen in February 2005. Spraragen was accused of.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00902
Channel 13, for the first time, did some investigative reporting tonight. They actually interviewed some schenectady residents who were complaining about all of the police officers that are currently suspended WITH PAY. It was a pretty in depth report.
Do you know when this will be on again? I missed it and can't find it on their site.
Do you know when this will be on again? I missed it and can't find it on their site.
It was on last night (Monday) on the 6pm news/channel 13. It might be on again IF they do a follow up.
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
Re Jan. 13 article, “City cop arrested again, misses court”: The union has brought General Motors to its knees with absurd wages and benefi ts. Looks like the Police Benevolent Association is still holding Schenectady hostage with the Lewis case. How can anyone in a public position keep his job after five arrests is beyond belief. Another black eye for the police department because of the PBA.
SCHENECTADY Former chief turns in nurse license Kaczmarek deal part of drug plea BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek is no longer a registered nurse. Kaczmarek, who faces sentencing on a drug possession count next month, surrendered his nursing license formally last week. Kaczmarek turned in his license as a provision of his plea deal. He had held the license since 1974. Kaczmarek faces sentencing Feb. 2 after his admission last month to a drug possession charge. His nursing license was one of several items he had to surrender, including any badges he still owned. He remains free on bail pending his sentencing. He is to receive two years state His attorney, Thomas O’Hern, said the sentencing remains on track. His client also intends to remain free on bail until then. Kaczmarek’s wife, Lisa Kaczmarek, surrendered to authorities Jan. 7 to begin serving her own sixmonth jail term. She is still to be formally sentenced with her husband Feb. 2. Lisa Kaczmarek was indicted in May 2008 along with two dozen others, accused of taking part in a drug organization headed by Kerry Kirkem and Oscar Mora. The former chief was indicted months later. They both pleaded guilty to charges last month. O’Hern Tuesday declined to detail how Greg Kaczmarek used his nursing license. Kaczmarek worked as a nurse prior to entering law enforcement and kept his license current in the years that followed. In the application to surrender his license, which was signed Dec. 2, the day of his plea, Kaczmarek noted he had been charged with one specification of professional misconduct. The misconduct is described as being convicted of felony drug possession with intent to sell. “I am applying ... ..........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01102
Until its police can be held accountable, Sch’dy is doomed
The cronyism and favoritism in Schenectady has come to an all-time sad high. Regarding Mr. Kimball's Jan. 13 letter ["Misty Gallo sentence in Kaczmarek case a miscarriage of justice"], the last sentence sums it up: "The punishment depends on who you are!" This has been proven many times in the recent past. Our former police chief and his wife, who were obviously high-level players in a drug ring, received ridiculously light sentences when compared to the other defendants in the same case. Then we have officer John Lewis, who, according to Gazette reports, has been arrested five times in the last 10 months [Jan. 13 Gazette] — not to mention being fired once from the department. He has once again been released on his own recognizance. In my opinion, this guy should have numbers across his chest, not on a badge. We all know there have been more, but space is limited. I firmly believe the root of this evil falls on "king" [police union president] Robert Hamilton and the Schenectady Police Benevolent Association. Our city leaders need to step up and ensure that the next union contract is much different than the last, because as long as the police are held accountable to absolutely nobody except themselves, there cannot and will not be any change to this disgusting situation! No police department should be allowed to police themselves. They must be accountable to their community.
What does this have to do with the CURRENT policemen and women? I don't get his drift.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Point is the police are still unaccountable to anyone but an arbitrator so nothing has changed. Wouldn't it be nice if we could tell our employers what to do and when to do it and how much they have to pay for it.
What does this have to do with the CURRENT policemen and women? I don't get his drift.
I read it as his 'drift' is his perception of the union and it's workings! Forgetting however, that he needs to take it up with the city officials who negotiate their contracts. Cause they are just working within the contract...I guess..
As far as the sentence the x-chief and wife got....well blame the legal system for that one!!
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
well the repubs save Kaz who was a crook and it was them who put him high up over there so wake up repubs it is your party lkeading the corupttion in our nation
The recent resignation of Bob Tufano, investigator for Schenectady’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, is yet one more piece of evidence highlighting the sorry state of police affairs in the city [Jan. 11 Gazette]. Tufano, who was supposed to be an independent investigator for the review board, is reported to have said in his letter of resignation that he is leaving because he has been constrained from doing “any type of meaningful investigation.” Instead, he has been limited to picking up a few complaints a year and dropping them off at police headquarters. An ineffectual review board only serves to reinforce the perception that the Schenectady Police Department is a rogue organization that operates without legitimate oversight. We know from personal experience that the department has many committed, professional officers. For their sake, as well as for the sake of Schenectady’s citizens, it is important to have a civilian complaint review board that is unbiased, thorough and efficient. One would think that both the Stratton administration and the Police Benevolent Association would want a review board that is respected by all parties. It would not only be good public relations; it’s good public policy. We urge the current review board members to work on strengthening its presence in the community and urge the new police chief, Mark Chaires, to treat the board professionally and comply with its charter.
MELANIE TRIMBLE Albany The writer is executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Capital Region Chapter.
SCHENECTADY Leader of big drug ring sentenced Judge tells Kirkem: ‘You preyed on people’ BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
A common connection among many of the two dozen admitting guilt in a bigtime Schenectadybased drug ring was the ring’s leader, Kerry Kirkem, a judge noted Monday. More than half of the defendants were involved only because of Kirkem, Schenectady County Court Judge Karen Drago estimated. Whether it was his charm, or the prospect of making quick cash, she said, “but for you, they would not have been involved.” Drago’s comments came as she sentenced Kirkem to 12 years in state prison. “You preyed on certain people,” Drago added later. “You preyed on their addictions or them being so naive that they didn’t figure out what was going on.” Kirkem pleaded guilty last summer to one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The plea was in exchange for the 12-year sentence. Among those caught up in the organization were former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek, his wife Lisa Kaczmarek and her son Miles Smith. Greg and Lisa Kaczmarek and Smith all pleaded guilty to varying charges linked to Kirkem’s organization. Greg and Lisa Kaczmarek face sentencing on Monday. In court Monday, officials shed more light on the origins of the organization led by Kirkem and co-defendant Oscar Mora. Later, officials also revealed more about the Kaczmareks’ connections. In court, Assistant Attorney General Michael Sharpe outlined how the organization began. Kirkem served time in 1999 from a Nassau County drug conviction. When he got out, he resumed marijuana and then cocaine sales. It was when his friend Mora ran into trouble in 2007 on federal drug and weapons charges that the organization expanded to heroin sales, Sharpe said. Mora wanted to fade to the background with the federal counts pending. “They melded their organization into one large one,” Sharpe said. Mora pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. That sentence represented a combination of the federal and state cases. Kirkem agreed as part of his deal to forfeit any claim to a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2006 Dodge Charger, both seized by police. He also forfeited $6,951 in cash seized at his residence, along with a Samsung large-screen television, three cellphones and a computer. Based on the wiretap transcripts, obtained earlier by The Daily Gazette, Kirkem appeared to have few options than to take a deal. Authorities alleged he was heard on multiple calls, setting up deals and shipments and keeping workers in line. In a conversation with Lisa Kaczmarek, Kirkem tried to explain a delay in a shipment. He also rebuffed an alleged offer by Greg Kaczmarek to go down himself. Greg Kaczmarek was reported as heard in the background. In another conversation, Kirkem reacted with surprise as alleged drug mule Misty Gallo reported the shipment she was carrying had been seized, apparently by police. Authorities also alleged Kirkem and the Kaczmareks discussed the drug seizure. Drago on Monday called Kirkem’s inducement of others most disturbing to the court. Among them was Leah Armenia. She pleaded guilty to felony fourthdegree conspiracy related to allowing Kirkem to use her apartment to store drugs. Drago sentenced her Monday to five years of probation. Sharpe said prosecutors believe she didn’t know exactly what Kirkem was doing with her apartment, but she knew at some point. Her attorney John Della Ratta said she didn’t want to know. Kirkem even acted like a father figure to one defendant, Drago noted. “You induced him into................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00901
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