Top Cop Sanitized Report for Politician

No state cops' rogue unit: report
The New York Daily News by Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain - September 7, 2009

ALBANY, NY - A long-awaited report by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo shot down charges that a rogue unit operated within the state police conducting political dirty tricks for two ex-governors, sources said last night. While no charges are expected, the report, which is likely to be sent to Gov. Paterson as early as tomorrow, is critical of former law enforcement officials. Ex-state police Col. Daniel Wiese, who headed security for former Gov. George Pataki and had a close relationship with disgraced ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer, takes a beating. "It's going to be harsh on Dan Wiese, but there is nothing to substantiate any rogue unit ...," said a source. "There was no ... political espionage." Paterson requested the probe a year ago after hearing reports from more than 10 lawmakers that they might have been targeted by rogue cops. The report found that Wiese had inappropriate influence and often spoke with Rod Covington, who retired last year as head of the state police's executive services detail, sources said. The report also found that former state police Superintendent Wayne Bennett sanitized a domestic violence report on former upstate Republican Rep. John Sweeney during his unsuccessful 2006 reelection campaign.