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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Cop Fired for Covering-Up Mayor's DWI

Montgomery ex-mayor in traffic stop dispute
The Courier by Brad Meyer - February 25, 2012

A traffic stop of the former Montgomery mayor has led to a controversial police report for allegedly driving under the influence, but no charges, and the termination of the officer who pulled him over. Travis Mabry, who resigned as the city’s mayor last year, said there is nothing to the incident, he was not driving drunk and the investigation is retaliation by city officials. However, a city official said the goal of municipal officials is to ensure that no one receive preferential or discriminatory treatment in carrying out the duties of city business. Sgt. Robert Bodden pulled over Mabry shortly before midnight Nov. 11, 2011, because the vehicle was “being driven erratically by weaving from one side of a lane of traffic to the other side,” according to the police report. However, Bodden did not conduct a field sobriety test, issue a citation or file a police report that night, and allowed Mabry to drive home. The city terminated Bodden for not obtaining any evidence at the scene or filing a report. “Standard procedure would be to conduct a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer test,” Police Chief Royce Goodson said. “Officer Bodden made a serious mistake in judgment.” The report was filed around two weeks later by Goodson after the chief conducted his own investigation, City Administrator Bill Kotlan said.

Mabry was driving the pickup truck involved in the traffic stop and “appeared to be extremely intoxicated,” Goodson, who reviewed the police vehicle’s video of the incident, wrote in the police report. Mabry refutes the allegation of driving under the influence of alcohol. He claims the top came off of a cup of coffee and he swerved the vehicle when hot liquid spilled on his leg. He claims Bodden released him to drive home after making the stop. Goodson, however, said Bodden told several local residents he had stopped the former mayor for driving under the influence and the stories had gotten back to the chief. He said he then conducted an internal investigation into the matter then wrote the report. The video of the incident and police report were sent to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges would be filed against Mabry. However, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam, chief of the DA’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division, said no charges will be filed against Mabry. “After reviewing the matter, there was insufficient evidence to file charges,” Diepraam said. “The video shows a traffic stop, but there is no evidence regarding alcohol.” The case is not closed, Diepraam said, because the DA’s Office has up to two years to file charges in the event new evidence becomes available. Mabry dismissed the entire incident – including the referral of the video to the DA’s Office – as retaliation by his successor and Kotlan. Kotlan disagreed. “The case and related materials were turned over to the DA’s Office so that an objective party could review the situation and make a determination about what, if anything, should be done,” Kotlan said. He said the DA has made a determination and he is satisfied that the matter has been resolved. But the issue concerning Bodden’s termination is not resolved. Kotlan said the city is working on a settlement agreement with the officer that would allow him to be reinstated and resign his position – and that his separation from employment with the city is “related to the incident.” Bodden did not want to discuss the issue. “I lost my job over this,” he said. “I’m putting this behind me and moving on. I’ve got nothing to say.” The Courier filed a Freedom of Information request with the city of Montgomery for a copy of the video of the traffic stop. City Attorney Bryan Fowler sent the request to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for a ruling on whether the tape should be released. Because a settlement agreement is in the works with Bodden and the possibility of litigation between the officer and the city remains a possibility, Fowler is requesting the state grant the city’s request to withhold the video recording of the incident from the public. Goodson said Bodden’s failure to conduct a field sobriety test of a suspected drunk driver or to secure a breathalyzer or blood test was a violation of standard departmental policy and procedures, but the action – or lack of action – is not a crime. “Police officers have discretion and latitude in their investigation process,” Diepraam said. “There are no plans to charge Bodden or Mabry with a crime.”

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Judge, "A Disgrace to His Oath as a Prosecutor and a Lawyer"

Bruno Mars’ former prosecutor sentenced to nine months in jail for felony crack possession
The Assocaited Press - Februry 27, 2012
Former Deputy District Attorney David Schubert apologized for what he called 'a tragedy'

LAS VEGAS, NV — A former top Las Vegas drug prosecutor who handled the high-profile Paris Hilton and Bruno Mars cocaine possession plea deals was sentenced Monday to nine months in county jail in a felony crack possession case. Former Deputy District Attorney David Schubert apologized to the court for what he called “a tragedy,” and then stood silently as a state court judge berated him as “a disgrace to his oath as a prosecutor and a lawyer.” Clark County District Court Judge Carolyn Ellsworth also said that the terms of a plea deal that could have gotten Schubert just probation and a chance to clear his record were “offensive.” “I’m not going to give you the special treatment,” the judge said. Police arrested Schubert last March after they watched another man get out of Schubert’s car, go into an apartment complex and return. Officers found Schubert with a $40 rock of crack cocaine and confiscated an unregistered 9mm handgun from his car. Schubert once handled Clark County’s highest-profile drug prosecutions as the district attorney office’s liaison to a federal drug task force. Hilton, 30, was arrested after police said 0.8 grams of cocaine fell out of her handbag following a Las Vegas Strip traffic stop in August 2010. The celebrity socialite received a year of probation on misdemeanor cocaine possession and obstruction charges. She successfully completed probation last fall. Mars, 26, was cleared in January of a felony cocaine possession charge after staying out of trouble for a year and meeting other conditions of a plea deal. The Grammy-winning pop star, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, acknowledged in court in February 2011 that he had 2.6 grams of cocaine after a performance at a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino nightclub. Schubert resigned from the prosecutor’s office after his arrest and underwent two months of inpatient substance abuse counseling. The 48-year-old has been undergoing outpatient alcohol and drug counseling since May, and has been practicing criminal defense law in some of the same courtrooms where he was a prosecutor for 10 years. Schubert pleaded guilty to a felony charge of unlawful possession of a controlled substance not for sale. The conviction could threaten his law career, depending on a review by the State Bar of Nevada and action by the state Supreme Court, bar official Phil Pattee said. Schubert has until March 12 to surrender to begin his jail sentence. Defense attorney William Terry said he may appeal the sentence or ask the judge to take the rare step of setting it aside.

3 Ex-Cops Plead Guilty to Gun Conspiracy Charges

3 ex-cops in gun transport sting plead guilty to conspiracy charges
The New York Daily News by Robert Gearty - February 27, 2012
Joseph Trischitta, Gary Ortiz and John Mahoney face prison terms

Three more cops nabbed in a two-year sting face prison sentences after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges Monday in Manhattan Federal Court. Joseph Trischitta, Gary Ortiz and John Mahoney were among eight active and retired NYPD officers charged last year with transporting guns, slot machines and cigarettes across state lines. Trischitta was retired, while Ortiz and Mahoney were still on the force but lost their jobs after pleading guilty. Prosecutors said the officers took payments of more than $170,000 from FBI undercover officers posing as criminals. Six of the cops have pleaded guilty, including ringleader and former Brooklyn cop William Masso.

-------------- FBI PRESS RELEASE:

Four Former NYPD Officers Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Participating in Conspiracies to Transport Firearms and/or Stolen Goods
Nine of the Twelve Defendants Originally Charged Have Now Plead Guilty

U.S. Attorney’s Office - February 27, 2012 - Southern District of New York - (212) 637-2600

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officers GARY ORTIZ, JOSEPH TRISCHITTA, JOHN MAHONEY, and RICHARD MELNIK pled guilty to engaging in conspiracies to transport firearms and/or stolen goods across state lines. Associates MICHAEL GEE and ERIC GOMER also pled guilty to participating in a scheme to transport stolen goods interstate, and GEE pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-of-state resident. ORTIZ, TRISCHITTA, MAHONEY, and GEE each pled guilty today, and MELNIK and GOMER pled guilty last week. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As they admitted today, these police officers moonlighted as criminals, and even planned to use their badges to cover their illegal activity. When officers break the law they swear to uphold, they undermine the public’s confidence, and the damage they cause cannot be overstated. To date, seven law enforcement officers have admitted to violating this sacred trust, and now they must face the consequences of their betrayal.”

According to the Complaint, the plea agreements, the Informations to which each defendant pled, and statements made in court: From September 2010 to October 2011, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA participated in a scheme to transport firearms across state lines. ORTIZ, TRISCHITTA, and their co-conspirators helped transport three M-16 rifles, one shotgun, and 16 handguns – the majority of which had been defaced to remove or alter the serial number – from New Jersey to New York. In another scheme, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA, joined by MAHONEY, MELNIK, GEE, and GOMER, and other co-conspirators, helped transport what they believed were stolen goods, including slot machines and thousands of cartons of cigarettes, as well as various counterfeit merchandise, across state lines. In total, the goods they illegally transported carried a street value of approximately $1 million. GEE also participated in a conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-ofstate resident. While participating in the scheme, ORTIZ and MAHONEY were active-duty officers, in Brooklyn’s 71st and 68th precincts, respectively. For part of the time, TRISCHITTA was an active-duty officer in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. MELNIK was a retired NYPD Officer who had previously worked in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. The ringleader was William Masso, who was an active-duty officer in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. In preparing for, and carrying out this scheme, the defendants specifically discussed using their credentials and knowledge as law enforcement officers. In a meeting on March 24, 2011, Masso told MAHONEY, MELNIK, and TRISCHITTA that they should carry their law enforcement badges during the operation and, if stopped, should say they were police officers working off-duty to deliver items another person had purchased at an auction. At that same meeting, TRISCHITTA discussed a potential problem using a certain brand of rental truck to transport the merchandise since law enforcement is trained to look for that type of truck in connection with potential criminal activity. The following day, after transporting six slot machines they believed to have been stolen from New Jersey to New York, MELNIK said that they needed to coordinate better on future meetings to make sure they were not all in the same parking lot, which made it look like they were scoping out the area. During their guilty pleas, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA admitted that they had willfully transported firearms across state lines, in violation of their obligations as NYPD Officers. They, along with MAHONEY, MELNIK, GEE, and GOMER, also admitted that they had knowingly transported what they believed were stolen cigarettes, slot machines, and/or other merchandise across state lines. ORTIZ, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore H. Katz to one count of conspiracy to transport firearms interstate and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. ORTIZ agreed to a money judgment of $18,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in one gun seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe on June 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. TRISCHITTA, 42, of Staten Island, New York pled guilty today before Judge Katz to one count of conspiracy to transport firearms interstate and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. TRISCHITTA agreed to a money judgment of $11,500, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in five guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley on July 6, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. MAHONEY, 27, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MAHONEY agreed to a money judgment of $4,500, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in two guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sullivan on June 15, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. GEE, 50, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty today before Judge Katz to one count of conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-of-state resident and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. GEE agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. on June 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. MELNIK, 43, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty on February 24, 2012 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MELNIK agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in three guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones on July 6, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. GOMER, 28, of Rhode Island, New York, pled guilty on February 22, 2012 before U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. GOMER agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in a replica gun seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Keenan on May 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. Three defendants previously pled guilty in connection with the case. Masso pled guilty on February 6, 2012 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2012. Marco Venezia, a former NYPD Officer, and David Kanwisher, a corrections officer in New Jersey, each pled guilty on February 15, 2012 and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2012 and May 25, 2012, respectively. Charges are pending against former NYPD Officers Eddie Goris and Ali Oklu and former NYC Department of Sanitation Police Officer Anthony Santiago. Goris is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court on March 1, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. for a plea hearing. Santiago is scheduled appear before U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts on March 9, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. for a plea hearing. Oklu is scheduled to appear at a pretrial conference before Judge Pauley on March 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The charges against these co-conspirators are merely accusations, and these defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and the Internal Affairs Bureau of the NYPD. This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption and Complex Frauds units. Assistant United States Attorneys Carrie H. Cohen, Brent S. Wible, and Amanda Kramer are in charge of the cases. 12-062###

Ex-NYPD Cop Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Union Welfare Fund

Ex-NYPD cop pleads guilty to defrauding union welfare fund
The New York Daily News by John Marzulli - February 27, 2012
He submitted fake invoices to metal polishers' local

AN EX-NYPD cop who left the force under a cloud pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to defrauding a union welfare fund. Francis Mazzella admitted that he submitted fraudulent invoices to the Metal Polishers Local 8A-28A welfare fund to perform renovation work on the union hall. Mazzella owned an electrical maintenance company called City-Wide Control Systems after he left the force. But Mazzella said his company didn't do the work - he was actually working for a construction company owned by the welfare fund's trustee Robert Fabrizio, and the inflated invoices were designed to conceal Fabrizio's involvement in the work. The ex-cop said Fabrizio had provided financial assistance to City-Wide Control Systems to keep it afloat and controlled the company. Mazzella, 39, was previously arrested by the Brooklyn D.A.'s office in 2000 along with three other cops accused of fixing parking tickets and doing favors for the owner of a mobbed-up social club in Bensonshurst. He pleaded guilty then to a misdemeanor charge. In the federal case, Mazzella faces 33 to 41 months in prison when he's sentenced by Judge Allyne Ross. Fabrizio pleaded guilty last year to a separate union kickback and money laundering scheme.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Mayor, Police Officers Charged in Public Corruption Case

Patton Village mayor, 6 others indicted in corruption case
The Houston Chronicle by Mike Glenn - February 24, 2012

Patton Village Mayor Pamela Munoz and other city officials were indicted Friday in a public corruption case accusing them of using police cars, bought with federal grant money, as collateral to get bank loans that they then dipped into for personal use. A six-month investigation led to the indictments of Munoz, two other city officials and four city police officers, prosecutors with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said. A grand jury indicted Munoz on 10 corruption-related charges, ranging from abuse of official capacity to theft by a public servant. She was led away in handcuffs Friday. "In Montgomery County, public officials will be expected to act both lawfully and responsibly when dealing with public funds and property," said Tyler Dunman, an assistant district attorney in the public integrity division. Also indicted Friday were Patton Village city secretary Georgia Simons, court clerk Patricia Edmondson and Patton Village police officers Kenneth McLin, Michael Seymour, William Martin and Deangelo Lavergne. "We believe the mayor was the most active in these type of transactions. But, the others also have benefited by taking loans of city money for themselves," Dunman said. In addition to taking thousands of dollars from Patton Village's coffers, Munoz is accused of acquiring city-owned furniture and a computer for personal use and paying her trash service bills with city funds.

Theft accusations

Simons, Edmondson and officers Martin and Lavergne also stand accused of taking city funds, ranging from about $500 to more than $1,000, according to the indictments. The grand jury accused officers McLin and Seymour of making criminal background checks on people not linked to an official investigation. In October, the district attorney's office served warrants at Patton Village city offices, taking away computers and official records. Assisted by the FBI, investigators searched the files and built the case that led to Friday's criminal indictments. "Is this the last of the investigation? I honestly doubt it," Dunman said. "We will continue to investigate any allegations and make any arrests that are needed," Dunman said. The mayor and five of the other Patton Village officials were in custody late Friday. A final employee is out of town but is expected to surrender on Saturday, Dunman said. Bail for Munoz is set at about $200,000. The others also remain in the Montgomery County Jail with bail set at about $20,000, Dunman said. mike.glenn@chron.com

Cop Under Investigation for Sexual Assault on Waitress

NYPD detective under investigation for sexual assault spent hours drinking with cop pals before tryst
The New York Post by Kevin Fasick and Brad Hamilton - February 26, 2012

The NYPD detective under investigation for sexually assaulting a waitress in an uptown steakhouse spent four hours eating and drinking wine with his cop pals before taking the woman to a back room, sources said yesterday. The waitress told cops she was drunk during the Feb. 16 encounter, and investigators are looking into whether the detective gave her “hundreds of dollars” at the Parrilla Steakhouse, the sources said. The detective, whom the NYPD did not identify, returned to the table alone, finished his dinner and left the restaurant with the other cops, the sources said. The woman slept in the back. Hours later, the woman woke up to find that one of the restaurant’s owners was sexually assaulting her with his hand, the sources said. She sought treatment at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, where investigators met her and took her complaint about her boss. Cops were still looking for the owner yesterday morning. The sources said the 33rd Precinct cops were in the restaurant from about 6 to 10 p.m., while all four were on duty. The incident began after the waitress “found one of the guys attractive” and showed him “provocative” and possibly nude pictures of herself at the table, a law-enforcement source said. The detective escorted the woman into a back room — and one law-enforcement source termed the sex between the cop and the waitress a “possible rape.” But another source said the detective was likely to face only departmental charges related to drinking while on duty, because cops are allowed just a one-hour meal break. “He has an administrative problem,” said the source. “There’s video that shows them drinking alcohol.” It’s unclear how much wine the group consumed or if the waitress joined them at the table. One source said all four were “fit for duty,” even after the four-hour meal. Michael Palladino, who heads the NYPD detectives union, said the racy cellphone pictures hurt the waitress’ credibility. “If that is, in fact, true, it sounds like she was trying to serve them more than they ordered, which calls into question her credibility,” he said. The waitress has a criminal record, and was fired from her job after making the allegations, the sources said. The detective, a veteran investigator in his 40s, has been with the NYPD for approximately 20 years. He has not been charged with any crime, and has not been compelled to provide a DNA sample. He and the three other cops have been taken off active duty, with their guns and badges confiscated. Parrilla, an upscale place at Broadway and 164th Street, offers 17 wines by the glass, a mix of mostly reds that includes Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon for $7 to $10. kevin.fasick@nypost.com

Police Department Needs To Go Further on Crime Statistics

NYPD needs to go further on crime statistics, say Noel Leader of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Disagreement on reality of crime reduction
The New York Daily News by Ben Chapman, Dan Beekman and Tina Moore - January 21, 2012

The NYPD memo telling rank-and-file cops to make filing criminal reports easier is just the start of preventing crime stat fudging, critics said Saturday. “The police commissioner and mayor can say crime is down if there’s no actual report on the crime,” said Noel Leader, a retired NYPD sergeant and co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement. In the memo from Commissioner Raymond Kelly reported in Saturday’s Daily News, Kelly spells out the steps cops should take when someone wants to report a crime. The missive tells cops to take reports even if the victim can’t identify the suspect or provide a stolen goods’ receipt. It also specifies that a report should be taken when victims refuse to speak with detectives or view photos — and even if they don’t want to prosecute. “It does seem like common sense,” Leader said. “You really shouldn’t have to encourage officers to do this.” Leader said often supervisors don’t want cops to take reports when a victim hasn’t seen the face of a perpetrator because it is unlikely the crime will get solved. NYPD officials denied that the memo was prompted by recent controversies and instead was a reminder of proper procedures. A 36-year-old nanny at the 75th Precinct in East New York on Saturday said she was turned away when trying to file a report about death threats from her brother-in-law. The woman, who wouldn’t give her name because she feared retribution, said her brother-in-law told neighbors last Sunday that he was going to stab her, but cops turned her away because the information was secondhand. “I think I should be able to make a report,” she said. “I’d feel safer. . . . They should make it easier.” Christopher Dunn, associate legal director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the memo shows that Kelly sees there is a “real problem.” Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane Williams said he thinks Kelly’s memo shows that the NYPD needs to be looked at by an outside agency. Brooklyn Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries said New Yorkers deserve to know if crime reductions are “a mirage.” “There are many constituents who have complained to me that they have been refused an opportunity to file a criminal complaint,” he said. tmoore@nydailynews.com

Police Corruption Panel to Add Four Attorneys

Police Corruption Panel to Add Four Attorneys
The New York Law Journal by Laura Haring - January 17, 2012

Four additional full-time attorneys will be hired by the Commission to Combat Police Corruption following Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Jan. 12 State of the City address. "We don't tolerate misconduct or corruption anywhere, and we have the very highest standards for those we entrust to enforce the law," Mr. Bloomberg said. "Our police force is the best in the world. And Commissioner [Raymond] Kelly has done an outstanding job making sure that New York's Finest are also the most upstanding." The commission, which is independent of the NYPD, reviews more than 100 open and closed cases from the department's Internal Affairs Bureau each year. Budget cuts have reduced the number of staff attorneys to two from six when the commission was created in 1995. Michael F. Armstrong, a partner at Lankler & Carragher who chairs the agency, said the additional staff will allow the commission to look into bigger corruption cases, including officers making false statements on official reports. "We will be able to fulfill to a greater degree the role that was envisioned when we were set up," he said There has been a string of high-profile police corruption cases in the last year, including allegations of widespread ticket fixing in the Bronx and reports that officers in Brooklyn had accepted bribes to bring unlawful firearms into the city. However, Mr. Armstrong, the former counsel of the Knapp Commission in the 1970s, said he does not believe there has been breakdown of the corruption control system. "You're never going to eliminate corruption in the police department," he said. "The question is how extensive is it and do you have the proper systems in place for keeping it to a minimum and the indications are that Commissioner Kelly runs a tight ship and Internal Affairs Bureau is efficient."

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Former Deputy Faces Charges of Having Sex with Woman Prisoner

Former deputy faces charge for allegedly having sex with woman in custody
The Houston Chronicle - February 24, 2012

A Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy faces a criminal charge for allegedly having sex with a woman in custody last year, according to court documents. Tony Richards, 48, has been indicted for improper sexual activity with a person in custody, according to court records filed with the Harris County District’s Attorney Office. Richards is accused of having sex with a woman in custody on Nov. 1, according to court records. Richards, a former senior deputy, was fired from the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. He scheduled to appear before a jury next week, said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for district attorney office. “While policing our own, we became aware of Mr. Richards’ behavior and immediately turned the findings over to the Harris County District Attorney,” said Deputy Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Cop Claims Ruled by Illegal System of Quotas

Cop claims Bronx precinct ruled by illegal system of zealous arrest quotas
The New York Daily News by Rocco Parascandola and Rich Schapiro - February 23, 2012
Color-coded reports track officer performance: lawsuit

An NYPD officer has sued, charging the 42nd Precinct is run under a zealous quota system.
A veteran NYPD cop claims his beleaguered Bronx precinct is ruled by an elaborate quota system that has created so much tension that cops now guard the locker room. In a federal lawsuit, Officer Craig Matthews charges the illegal quotas in place at the 42nd precinct have led to harsh punishments and pitted cops against each other. Some officers who complied with the quotas have had their lockers damaged, vandalized and even placed in the shower, the suit says. In a bid to stem the outbreak of “locker flipping,” on-duty cops now guard the locker room around the clock, the suit says. Central to the quota system are color-coded computer reports that categorize cops by the number of arrests, summonses and stop-and-frisks they carry out. Officers who fail to meet the reports are highlighted in red. Black ink is used to denote cops who are meeting the quotas, while silver is used to identify those who are meeting some quotas, the suit says. Matthews claims that officers who don’t hit their numbers are subjected to a slew of punishments, including undesirable assignments and the loss of overtime. “Cops are pressured to make numbers and are punished for not making them, which means that innocent people are exposed to baseless summonses, arrests, and stop-and-frisks,” said Matthews’ lawyer, Christopher Dunn. “The quotas must stop and the retaliation against those who complain about the quotas must stop.” The NYPD’s top spokesman, Paul Browne, denied the allegations. “Police managers are doing what their jobs demand and the public expects, supervising employees,” said Browne. He said the color codes do not specify quotas, but indicate “enforcement activity” for arrests, criminal summonses and stops for suspicious activity. “Black indicates an officer's activity in each category, silver indicates activity in at least one of the three categories, and red indicates no activity whatsoever in any of three categories,” said Browne. Matthews’ claims echo those of cops who have come forward in the last three years to reveal the department's habit of illegally setting quotas and punishing cops who don't meet them. A 14-year veteran of the force, Matthews says he was immediately irked by the quota system put in place in 2008. He says he complained about the system several times to his precinct’s commanding officer, Capt. Timothy Bugge. He also brought his concerns to Deputy Inspector Jon Bloch, the suit says. But the system continued unabated - and he soon was the target of a campaign of retaliation, the suit says. Matthews says he was humiliated by his supervisors in front of other cops and assigned especially dangerous duties, such as transporting several prisoners without the standard number of back-up officers. Matthews, who has received more than 20 awards for his police work, also started receiving poor evaluations. “If you come after me, I will come back after you harder,” a supervisor said, according to the suit. It’s not the first time the 42nd Precinct has been hit by the quota controversy. Last May, Officer Vanessa Hicks sued the NYPD, claiming she was transferred because she didn't conduct enough stop-and- frisks. In February` 2010, a precinct union delegate, Officer Frank Palestro, was transferred after he reported corruption to Internal Affairs, alleging that a female lieutenant ordered cops to write summonses for traffic violations they did not witness, refused to take crime complaints and tampered with a gun at a crime scene.

Police Officer Arrested in DUI Bribery Case

Athens police officer arrested in DUI bribery case
CBS Atlanta by Jennifer Banks - February 16, 2012

ATHENS, GA (CBS ATLANTA) - According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 33-year-old Athens-Clarke County Officer Chris Burton was arrested and charged with one count of party to the crime of bribery, and one felony count of violation of oath of office. Burton was arrested after an investigation into bribery allegations. The investigation revealed that Burton had contacted a fellow officer and stated that a friend of Burton's would pay a quantity of money to have his DUI charge dismissed, according to reports. The cooperating officer reported this information to his superior officer which resulted in the request for the investigation. On February 14, 2012, agents monitored an exchange of funds to the cooperating officer from the DUI arrestee with the expectation that a pending DUI charge would be dismissed. Officers expect an additional arrest of a non-Athens-Clarke County employee in this case. Prior to Burton's arrest, Chief Lumpkin had placed Burton on administrative suspension with pay due to conduct unbecoming an officer. Burton has been employed with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department since 2008.

Rookie cop arrested for shooting tricycle driver

Rookie cop arrested for shooting tricycle driver
The Phillippine Daily Inquirer - February 25, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—A rookie policeman was arrested after he allegedly shot and wounded a tricycle driver who had overtaken him while he was driving a motorcycle with his wife and a child riding tandem on Friday night in Quezon City, police said. Apparently not content with shooting Lauro Lorenzo in the leg, PO Edison Canaveral handcuffed the wounded tricycle driver, a police report on the incident said. Fortunately for the victim, some law enforcers assigned to the Novaliches police station investigated the commotion in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon and arrested Canaveral, the report said. Station commander Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo said Canaveral, who is assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, was turned over to the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit. Canaveral’s wife, Charmaine, told reporters on Saturday that while she did not see the shooting, she presumed her husband did it in self-defense as she had earlier seen the tricycle driver holding a knife. Police said, however, that no knife was found on Lorenzo. Both Canaveral and Lorenzo were cruising on Damong Maliit Street in Jordan Heights Subdivision at around 7:30 p.m. Friday when an altercation ensued between them. Canaveral’s wife claimed that Lorenzo, suddenly sped up from behind them and overtook them, nearly causing their motorcycle to lose balance. After that initial altercation, the policeman dropped his wife and the child off at a safe distance. “He came back a few minutes later and waited for the other man,” Pedrozo said, citing Lorenzo’s account. Upon spotting the 43-year-old tricycle driver, the rookie cop allegedly shot Lorenzo in the right leg with his .45-caliber service pistol. Lorenzo was taken to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment. The policeman’s wife claimed it was the tricycle driver who started the ruckus and and that he got off his vehicle and pulled out a bladed weapon. Pedrozo said, however, that he found out later that it was not the first time Canaveral figured in a case of road rage. “We learned that last year when he was still a trainee, he also shot an FX driver in another traffic altercation,” the Pedrozo said, adding he did not know, however, what happened to that case. Canaveral’s wife denied that there was a similar incident in the past.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Councilman Wants Stop-and-Frisk Cops to Leave Business Cards

Councilman Jumaane Williams wants police to cough up business cards after stop-and-frisks
The New York Daily News by Reuven Blau and Corky Siemaszko - February 24, 2012
Bill is aimed at stopping profiling of minorities


City Councilman Jumaane Williams will introduce a bill next week that would require police to produce a business card every time they perform a stop-and-frisk. A Brooklyn City Councilman with a history of run-ins with police will introduce a bill next week that will require cops to produce a business card every time they do a stop-and-frisk. Councilman Jumaane Williams said the officer’s name, rank and unit would be on the cards — and that his bill is aimed at curbing unwarranted police profiling of minorities. “There’s a lot of inherent tension when a police officer stops someone,” he said Thursday. “There’s a lot of mistrust in the community. I think a lot of that can be eased by officers identifying themselves so people know what’s happening.” Williams said the rule would apply only to uniformed officers — not undercover cops. “We are not trying to hamper policing efforts,” he said. Williams’ business card proposal is part of a three-part bill aimed at protecting New Yorkers from unlawful police searches. In addition to barring race-based profiling, it also makes it a no-no to profile potential perps based on age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status and other characteristics. Also, the bill would require cops to alert a target that they have the right to refuse to give consent to a search. There was no immediate response from the NYPD. Williams’ business card proposal has been standard operating procedure for uniformed police in Portland, Ore., for two years. Similar rules are also in place for state cops in Colorado and Arkansas, and for police in Minneapolis, Williams said. Civil rights groups have been pressuring police to change what they consider are racially discriminatory practices. Williams has personal reasons for wanting this to happen. Last year, after the annual West Indian Day Parade, Williams and a member of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s staff were cuffed by cops when they tried to enter a frozen zone. Two officers involved in the incident were later disciplined. rblau@nydailynews.com

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Police Chief Resigns After Arrests of 4 Officers

Conn. Police Chief Resigns After Arrests of 4 Officers
The New York Times by Peter Applebome - January 30, 2012

The chief of the embattled Police Department in East Haven, Conn., announced on Monday that he was retiring after the arrest of four officers last week on federal charges of harassing and intimidating members of minority groups. Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said that the resignation of the police chief, Leonard Gallo, 64, would be effective Friday, and that a search would begin immediately as the department and the town sought to regain their footing. The officers were indicted following a blistering report in December by the Justice Department alleging racial profiling and deeply flawed police practices in East Haven, a suburb of New Haven. Chief Gallo was not charged with any crimes. But his lawyer, Jonathan J. Einhorn, and others familiar with the department said Chief Gallo had been cited as “Co-Conspirator 1,” identified in the indictment as part of a conspiracy to deprive Hispanics and other members of minority groups of their rights. Federal officials said further indictments were possible. Appearing at a news conference to announce the chief’s departure, Mr. Einhorn told reporters that the chief was not resigning under duress. And his retirement after 14 years as chief and 42 years in law enforcement should not in any way be construed as an admission of guilt, the lawyer said. “He is retiring from his position for one reason alone — that is his desire to not be a distracting element in East Haven’s efforts to rehabilitate its image both upon its citizens and the general public,” Mr. Einhorn said. Though he noted that Chief Gallo was named as a defendant in a civil suit involving the department’s practices as well as being cited as “Co-Conspirator 1” in the indictment, Mr. Einhorn insisted that Mr. Gallo would be vindicated on both issues. “Should he be charged in the federal criminal case, we will successfully defend against any such charges,” Mr. Einhorn said, adding that Chief Gallo “should not be arrested, and if arrested, he will be acquitted on any charges.” Chief Gallo’s resignation may not end the uncertainty about his future, however. Frederick Brow and James Krebs, who serve on the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners, which oversees the department, said Chief Gallo should be fired, rather than allowed to resign. Dismissal would reduce his termination package. “It’s like they’re rewarding him for these behaviors,” said Mr. Brow, the chairman of the board. Others were even more critical of the police chief. Chief Gallo “cultivated a racist and dishonest police force,” said the Rev. James Manship, a priest at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, whose attempts to document police behavior helped prompt the federal investigation. He called for the local prosecutor, Michael Dearington, to review the convictions of people who had been arrested by the four indicted officers, and to seek to vacate those convictions that were “tainted by racial bias or other unconstitutional conduct.” Thomas MacMillan contributed reporting from East Haven, Conn.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Would-Be Cop in Morning, Murder Suspect by Night

Would-be cop in morning, murder suspect by night
The Albany Times Union by Robert Gavin - January 30, 2012

ALBANY, NY — On the morning of April 30, Dhoruba Shuaib took the exam to be an Albany police officer — a test he would pass. Within several hours, the 19-year-old would be on a basketball court at Hoffman Park in Albany where, according to prosecutors, he helped now-17-year-old Jah-Lah Vanderhorst stab Tyler Rhodes, a 17-year-old member of the Albany High School track team who lost his life that evening. Shuaib is not accused of being the stabber. Rather, the prosecutors contend he restricted the movements of Rhodes, which allowed Vanderhorst to stab him. They also allege Shuaib was handed the murder weapon by Vanderhorst, then handed it back before Vanderhorst mortally wounded Rhodes. Opening arguments began Monday in Shuaib's second-degree murder trial before acting Supreme Court Justice Dan Lamont in Albany. "But for this defendant's actions Tyler Rhodes would be alive today," Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi told jurors, as family members of both Rhodes and Shuaib looked on. The incident was video-recorded by a cellphone camera. The video is expected to be shown to the jury at some point Monday. Vanderhorst will be tried separately. Rossi said Rhodes and Vanderhorst had a past; he said Vanderhorst had thrown bricks at Rhodes. And two days prior to the stabbing, the prosecutor said, Vanderhorst chased a jogging Rhodes with a knife. He said Vanderhorst was "on a mission" to stab Rhodes. Rhodes had even told his mother he might have to stab Vanderhorst in the leg, if necessary, telling her, "This isn't going to end until one of us is dead," Rossi told jurors. "Tyler was at his wit's end," he said. He said Rhodes and Vanderhorst met each other at the park at 7 p.m. on April 30. Rhodes wanted a regular fight to end the problems between the two — but did have a switchblade given to him by a friend, Rossi said. Rossi said Vanderhorst tried to stab Rhodes, but had difficulty doing so because the teenager was athletic and quick. That's where Shuaib came in, Rossi said. He said Shuaib flanked Rhodes and restricted his movements like a "pick" in basketball. He said Vanderhorst, at one point, gave the knife to Shuaib, who later gave it back to him. He said Vanderhorst stabbed Rhodes in the heart. As Rhodes ran after Vanderhorst, Rossi said, Shuaib struck him in the head. Rhodes collapsed and died. The prosecutor said Shuaib ran away and removed his shirt, but was caught a few blocks away. Rossi, who spoke for 12 minutes, was followed by Shuaib defense attorney Cheryl Coleman, who blasted the allegations as so untrue they should make the jury angry. She said her client had no motive, no opportunity and was simply one of several people on the court. She said he struck Rhodes because he saw Rhodes was armed with a knife and running toward Vanderhorst. In a 30-minute opening, she called the case against Shuaib a "crock!" She said Albany police later kept Shuaib shackled to the floor of a station from the early evening until 4 a.m. She said the police twisted his words as he was "spinning his head." She said the video would show her client does not deserve to be on trial, and that his life was altered that night as well. "He's a good kid. He's not guilty," Coleman said. Jury selection, which began Thursday morning, wrapped up Friday. If convicted, Shuaib faces 25 years to life in prison.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Police Chief Under Investigation

East Texas police chief under investigation
KLTV by Bob Hallmark - January 13, 2012

RUSK COUNTY, TX - An East Texas Police Department is the center of an investigation -- with accusations of gross abuse of authority by an East Texas woman against the police chief in Tatum. The woman says this is a frightening abuse of power. It was December 15, that a civil issue was reported, and discounted by Rusk County officials in a Tatum neighborhood, but later it brought Tatum Police Chief Ron Martin to the scene.

"The chief of police walked in, he never asked me about the incident, he never asked me a question, he said, 'Get your butt up and leave, or I'll take you to jail,'" said Tonia Comacho, "'He said, 'I don't care what Rusk County said--this is my town.'
Police chief Ron Martin--he picked up one basket of my clothes and set them out on the curb by my car in the rain."

What allegedly happened next, Tonia Comacho says she couldn't believe. It was at a residence on McNeese Circle that Comacho says the police chief gave her rough treatment, forcing her to leave in her car even though she admitted she was intoxicated.
 "I felt that I was too intoxicated to drive," Camacho says, "Ii told him this three times... [He} threatened to send me to jail saying I was mentally ill." "The chief of police made allegations about trumping up fake charges on me," says Comacho. Comacho was residing with a Tatum police officer. City officials declined to comment on camera, but did say the incident is under investigation. "He has made threats of making me disappear," says Comacho, "I'm afraid to go home. I won't let my kids go there." Comacho brought her allegations to City Council meeting, saying she filed a complaint that was forwarded to Texas Rangers. "I just want to make sure this doesn't happen to myself or anyone else again," she stated. Comacho has since moved from the area, fearing for her safety.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Deputy Accused in Drug Case Once Failed Academy

LA deputy accused in drug case once failed academy
The Los Angeles Times - January 13, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A deputy charged with smuggling heroin inside a burrito into a courthouse jail was initially kicked out of the Sheriff's Department training academy after a bumbling performance that was captured by Fox TV cameras for a reality show, a newspaper reported Friday. Henry Marin later returned to the academy and became a deputy. But during his first attempt in 2007, he was quickly tagged as the class slacker on the show "The Academy" after supervisors caught him sleeping during orientation, the Los Angeles Times said. "If he doesn't have the discipline to come here on Day 1 and show some respect, he's certainly not gonna have the discipline to work in the field of law enforcement," a drill sergeant said on the show. "What is wrong with you recruit?" another drill sergeant said when Marin showed up with a backward tie. Marin's arrest on Wednesday was the latest of many misconduct allegations against the Los Angeles County department, including brutality against inmates and contraband smuggling. The department, the FBI and others are investigating. During a training exercise filmed by Fox, Marin failed to call for help and forgot the radio code for an emergency after a suicidal woman pulled a gun. A similar mishap led to his dismissal. "You seem to have no knowledge or understanding of the laws that guide you and allow you to do certain things," a sergeant on the show told Marin after his ouster. He was later allowed to enroll again and graduated, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. "He certainly wasn't one of our best," Whitmore told the Times. Marin, 27, pleaded not guilty to charges of bringing drugs into jail and conspiracy to commit a crime. Prosecutors said a woman came to the South Los Angeles courthouse where Marin was assigned to provide security and delivered a heroin-stuffed bean and cheese burrito that he agreed to take into the jail in February of last year. Marin was released from custody after posting $25,000 bail and has been relieved of deputy duty without pay. He's due back in court Feb. 12. His attorney declined comment when reached by the Times.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Judge Rules on Serious Misconduct of Law Enforcement

Panel Cites Police Misconduct in Shelving Delinquency Finding
The New York Law Journal by Andrew Keshner - February 14, 2012

A police officer's "exceptionally serious misconduct" has prompted a Brooklyn appellate panel to reverse a teenager's adjudication as a juvenile delinquent in the interest of justice. The panel found that the police officer had submitted a defective affidavit claiming he watched a teenager hop a fence into private property although it was later disclosed that the officer was not present to witness the alleged act. "[W]e conclude that the attesting officer's execution of the defective affidavit, submitted as the primary support for the institution of this juvenile delinquency proceeding, constituted exceptionally serious misconduct of law enforcement personnel in the presentment of the petition," Justice Robert J. Miller (See Profile) wrote for a unanimous panel of the Appellate Division, Second Department in Matter of Steven C., 2011-02350. "Such conduct poses a grave risk to the assurances of due process afforded to juveniles by the Family Court Act, and it should not be countenanced." The ruling, released on Feb. 9, reverses Steven C.'s February 2011 adjudication as a juvenile delinquent by Queens Family Court Judge Fran Lubow (See Profile) and remands the matter to Family Court for proceedings under Family Court Act §375.1. The provision governs the sealing of records where a delinquency action has been terminated in favor of the respondent. Justice Miller was joined by Acting Presidiing Justice William F. Mastro (See Profile) and Justices Mark C. Dillon and Sandra L. Sgroi. The case was argued on Oct. 21.

With his lunch hour ending, Steven was arrested by police officers one day in April 2008 as he returned from a bagel shop to his Queens high school. Steven, a freshman, was handcuffed and put in a police vehicle with another student who had been arrested. A third student was also arrested nearby. The city in court papers alleged Steven and the two other teens had committed acts that would have constituted third-degree criminal trespass if they were adults. In a signed and notarized affidavit, a police officer, who was not identified in the decision, said he saw Steven and the two other youths jump over a fence into the backyard of a private residence. An accompanying document from the owner said she had not permitted anyone to be in her backyard at the time when the officer claimed he spotted the students. Judge Lubow presided over a fact-finding hearing that began in October 2009 and concluded in December 2010. The attesting officer did not testify at the hearing but two officers who arrested the other youths did testify. The officers said they saw Steven and the other two youths standing in the backyard. The youths fled once they made eye contact with the officers, jumping into another backyard, the officers said. The officers chased and arrested the other two youths, but not Steven. Both officers said at the hearing they were the only officers present, and both said the attesting officer was not there when they saw the youths. Steven and one of the other youths also testified, saying they were returning from the bagel shop when they saw the officers. They worried they would be cited for truancy and acknowledge that they ran away but insisted that they were never in a backyard. Steven said he was apprehended just as he tried to enter his school. In February 2011, Judge Lubow adjudicated Steven a juvenile delinquent and put him on probation for a year.

A 'Latent Defect'

In his decision, Justice Miller observed that juvenile delinquency petitions require non-hearsay allegation and said "[n]othing on the face of the petition rendered it insufficient." But testimony from the officers showed the attesting officer did not see the act in question, which, Justice Miller wrote, rendered the affidavit defective. He said juvenile delinquency petitions are subject to mandatory dismissal if the defect is facially apparent. But Justice Miller said if the defect is revealed later, as in Steven's case, the petition is not subject to mandatory dismissal. The petition, with its "latent defect," was however subject to dismissal in the interest of justice under Family Court Act §315.2[1]; the statute requires courts to weigh factors like "exceptionally serious misconduct of law enforcement personnel" against "the extent of harm caused by the crime." Here, Justice Miller said that the court needed to look no further than the "troubling shortcomings" of the police officer's affidavit. He said nothing in the record showed Steven had any contact with law enforcement before or after the arrest, nor was there anything to suggest he failed to follow the terms of his probation. Further, Justice Miller noted there were no claims that property or persons had been harmed in the incident. The officers testified the three youths were "merely standing in the backyard of the private residence at the conclusion of the students' lunch period." Steven C. was represented by Larry S. Bachner of Jamaica. Assistant Corporation Counsels Steven J. McGrath and Susan B. Eisner represented the city. Andrew Keshner can be contacted at akeshner@alm.com.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Retired Officer Protests in Uniform Against Corruption

Retired Philly officer again protests in uniform
The Associated Press - February 13, 2012

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A retired police captain who was arrested in uniform during an Occupy Wall Street protest last year joined demonstrators on the lawn of Independence Hall on Monday, saying he isn't breaking any law by wearing his old uniform despite the city police commissioner telling him to stop. Ray Lewis, who retired in 2004 after 24 years on the force, joined a group of Occupy Philadelphia protesters, again wearing his old uniform — complete with an Occupy button on it. He said he wants to speak out against corporate greed and corruption. "I have not violated any law" by wearing the uniform, the 60-year-old Lewis said. "I spent my entire career devoted to law enforcement, and I was proud of that." Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told Lewis in a Nov. 23 letter to stop wearing the uniform, saying that retirees had no authority to do so and that he found Lewis' conduct "disrespectful." The Fraternal Order of Police also asked him to stop wearing it, and its grievance committee is investigating the matter, said John McNesby, president of the local FOP lodge. Depending on the outcome of that investigation, Lewis could lose his FOP membership, meaning that the organization would no longer represent him and that he would lose his life insurance, McNesby said. "We're not going to put up with that here," McNesby said of Lewis wearing the uniform while protesting. "He's not a cop. He's a retired cop. ... Stop wearing the uniform." A police spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In November, Lewis became one of the faces of the Occupy Wall Street movement when he was arrested in full-dress uniform after blocking a street and ignoring police orders to move while demonstrating near the New York Stock Exchange. Last month, he took Manhattan prosecutors' offer to get the disorderly conduct case closed without jail time or probation if he avoids getting arrested again for six months. Lewis, who moved to upstate New York after his retirement, said he's not doing anything illegal by wearing the uniform, noting that he's not trying to impersonate a police officer. "I have never tried to influence anybody with any false authority," he said. "They could easily arrest me for impersonating a police officer. ...The thing they won't get is a conviction." Later Monday afternoon, Lewis took his anti-corporate message to the downtown Philadelphia headquarters of cable giant Comcast, which was being guarded by police and building security. He was among about two dozen activists from Occupy Philadelphia at the building, a frequent target of the movement. Also on site were members of the Washington-based group Rethink Press, which delivered to Comcast a petition signed by more than 23,000 people asking the company to carry the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera English. Lewis said he wasn't previously aware of the demonstration on Al-Jazeera, but he supported that cause, too. "If people don't want to watch it, they don't have to watch it," Lewis said. "That's what freedom of the press is all about." Comcast released a statement noting that company officials have met with representatives of Al-Jazeera in the past. "We regularly examine our channel lineups and talk with a wide range of programmers to ensure that we are bringing the content that our customers want the most," the statement said. It also noted that Al-Jazeera English is streamed for free online. Associated Press writer Kathy Matheson contributed to this report.

Friday, February 3, 2012

NYPD Auxiliary Cop Arrested On Possession of Child Pornography

NYPD auxiliary cop caught with slew of sickening kiddie porn at his upstate home, state police says
The New York Daily News by Sarah Armaghan - February 3, 2012
Daniel Sayer arrested and charged with two felony counts of possessing child pornography

Daniel Sayer was arrested and charged with two felony counts of possessing child pornography, officials said, and is being held in lieu of $15,000 cash bail in Orange County Jail. An NYPD auxiliary cop was caught with a slew of sickening kiddie porn at his upstate home, the New York State Police said. Daniel Sayer, 59, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of possessing child pornography, officials said, and is being held in lieu of $15,000 cash bail in Orange County Jail. He was dismissed from his volunteer position as a Deputy Inspector of the Auxiliary unit at the upper West Side’s 20th Precinct as a result of the arrest, the NYPD said. From 1972 to 1998, Sayer owned and operated “Dan’s Cougars Children’s Sports Club” in the city, coaching youngsters in sports, authorities said. Police raided a vacant rental home in Blooming Grove, where they later discovered Sayer had been staying, on Jan. 26 and found photos of boys under 16 years old engaging in sexual acts. They found more graphic images at his residence in Greenwood Lake on Feb. 1, the State Police said.