Former Cop Indicted On Felony Forgery Charges, Illegally Requested Phone Records

Former Frankfort officer indicted on felony forgery charges
The Utica Observer-Dispatch by Amanda Fries and Rocco LaDuca - November 4, 2011

HERKIMER, NY — The former Frankfort village police officer accused of illegally requesting phone records in March 2010 was indicted on felony forgery charges Friday afternoon, according to Herkimer County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Carpenter. Daniel Herrman, 39, was charged with two counts of felony second-degree forgery and two counts of misdemeanor official misconduct, Carpenter said and could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. In August 2010, Samuel Ameduri III alleged that his constitutional rights to privacy were violated when Herrman — one of his colleagues — falsified an emergency information request form and sent it to Verizon Wireless with the intent to obtain Ameduri's personal records, according to O-D archives. According to the emergency request form presented to an O-D reporter, the records request was around the same time as Ameduri said the former village police Chief Steven Conley had choked him in an attempt to get him to change his sworn statement about a civil case in which village resident Harold Griffin claimed Conley wrongfully arrested him. Carpenter wouldn’t comment Friday on whether Herrman’s current charges are related to the allegations made by Ameduri. It was unclear whose records Herrman was obtaining. When asked whether anyone else could face a possible arrest in this case, Carpenter said “It’s still an open investigation.” Herrman pleaded not guilty in front of Judge Patrick Kirk, after being arrested on a warrant somewhere in Utica, Carpenter said. After his appearance, Herrman was committed to Herkimer County jail on $10,000 cash, $20,000 bail bond. He is due back in court at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 10. The Village Board in July 2010 voted to remove Herrman from the police force, which also is when Conley announced his retirement. With his retirement came a swarm of allegations in regards to Conley’s leadership centered on Herrman. Aside from the fact that Herrman’s signature allegedly was found on the emergency request form, he also was never certified during his 15 months with the village police.