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Photo: Schenectady Police Department
Photo: Schenectady Police Department
Many Capital Region police departments have had to contend with officers facing criminal charges for their actions on- and off-duty in the past decade. Continue viewing the slideshow for recent cases.
Many Capital Region police departments have had to contend with officers facing criminal charges for their actions on- and off-duty in the past decade. Continue viewing the slideshow for recent cases.
Photo: Archive
Former Detective George McNally, Albany Police Department: Sentenced to 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty in August 2009 to driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. McNally also was ordered to attend treatment and a victim impact panel, as well as pay $4,500 in restitution and nearly $1,700 in fines. McNally hit two parked cars during an alcohol-fueled drive home, and retired with his pension and health insurance in June 2010 before the department moved to fire him.
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Former Detective George McNally, Albany Police Department: Sentenced to 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty in August 2009 to driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. McNally also was
... more
Former Officer Kyle Hunter, Schenectady Police Department: Resigned from department after pleading guilty in February 2010 to second-degree criminal contempt after violating order of protection involving his ex-girlfriend.
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Former Officer Kyle Hunter, Schenectady Police Department: Resigned from department after pleading guilty in February 2010 to second-degree criminal contempt after violating order of protection involving his
... more
Photo: Skip Dickstein
Former Officer Ed Weber, Colonie Police Department: Sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife in May 2010. He was ordered to stay away from his wife and attend treatment after admitting to punching her in the face and breaking her nose. The court’s order also prohibited him from carrying a gun, which forced him to resign from the police force.
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Former Officer Ed Weber, Colonie Police Department: Sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife in May 2010. He was ordered to stay away from his wife and attend treatment
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Brian Lutz, Albany Police Department: Found not guilty of driving while intoxicated, but guilty of driving while ability impaired, in Menands in
December 2010. Because Lutz refused a breath test during his arrest, his license was revoked. In
May 2011, Albany police fired him for being unable to drive but in
November 2012 a state court ruled the termination was an error and the city must rehire him. A year later, in
March 2012, an arbitrator ruled the city could legally fire Lutz.
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Former Officer Brian Lutz, Albany Police Department: Found not guilty of driving while intoxicated, but guilty of driving while ability impaired, in Menands in
December 2010. Because Lutz refused a breath
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer James Miller, Albany Police Department: Pleaded guilty to a lesser, noncriminal offense of driving while ability impaired after being charged in
March 2011 for driving while intoxicated in a department vehicle. Miller was ordered to pay $550, as well as attend a victim impact panel and prevention program. The longtime department spokesman returned to work roughly two months after the plea deal and retired in
March 2012.
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Former Officer James Miller, Albany Police Department: Pleaded guilty to a lesser, noncriminal offense of driving while ability impaired after being charged in
March 2011 for driving while intoxicated in a
... more
Photo: Paul Buckowski
Former Maj. Robert U. Kreppein, State Police: Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property after being charged in August 2011 with two felonies. Kreppein — a former commander of the State Police Aviation Unit, which is headquartered in Colonie — stole a $1,600 aviation GPS from the State Police and sold it to a fellow trooper, who believed the device was Kreppein's personal property. Kreppein pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in the middle of his November 2012 trial. He had retired shortly before his arrest.
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Former Maj. Robert U. Kreppein, State Police:
Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property after being charged in August 2011 with two felonies. Kreppein — a former commander of the
... more
Former Officer Christopher Hughes, Bethlehem Police Department: Found guilty of felony criminal possession of a forged instrument in May 2012 after using a fake Bethlehem police retirement card to try to obtain a police retirement badge. Hughes was fired after his conviction.
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Former Officer Christopher Hughes, Bethlehem Police Department: Found guilty of felony criminal possession of a forged instrument in May 2012 after using a fake Bethlehem police retirement card to try to obtain
... more
Former Officer Robert E. Schunk II, Albany Police Department: Fired in 2012 for a series of off-duty problems, including pointing a weapon at his head and having sex with a prostitute. Schunk was arrested multiple times before being fired and spent nearly a year in jail for domestic violence, after being convicted in March 2012 of harassment and criminal mischief. He was acquitted in February 2011 of second-degree assault and pleaded guilty to drunken driving in 2005.
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Former Officer Robert E. Schunk II, Albany Police Department: Fired in 2012 for a series of off-duty problems, including pointing a weapon at his head and having sex with a prostitute. Schunk was arrested
... more
Former Officer Edward Braim, Saratoga Springs Police Department: Forced to resign in
December 2012 as part of plea deal stemming from criminal charges that arose from an off-duty fight in which he injured a bar patron.
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Former Officer Edward Braim, Saratoga Springs Police Department: Forced to resign in
December 2012 as part of plea deal stemming from criminal charges that arose from an off-duty fight in which he injured a
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Investigator Robert Willey, Colonie Police Department: Suspended without pay as an officer in
February 2013 after being charged with misdemeanor assault in connection to a summer bar fight in Lake George. Willey pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a violation, in August 2013 and paid a $120 fine. He was promoted from officer to investigator in
September 2015.
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Investigator Robert Willey, Colonie Police Department: Suspended without pay as an officer in
February 2013 after being charged with misdemeanor assault in connection to a summer bar fight in Lake George.
... more
Former Officer Max Etienne, Albany Police Department: Sentenced to 60 hours of community service and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty in June 2013 to slamming his SUV into a row of parked cars in Pine Hills while intoxicated; ticketed for leaving the scene of a property damage incident in December 2008. Ettienne was later fired from the police force, based on an arbitrator's ruling.
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Former Officer Max Etienne, Albany Police Department: Sentenced to 60 hours of community service and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty in June 2013 to slamming his SUV into a row of parked cars in Pine Hills
... more
Former Officer Mark Fusco, Rensselaer Police Department: Sentenced to three to nine years in prison in April 2014 for first-degree vehicular manslaughter after driving a car into a tree at 95 mph, killing his passenger. Fusco left the force shortly after his arrest.
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Former Officer Mark Fusco, Rensselaer Police Department: Sentenced to three to nine years in prison in April 2014 for first-degree vehicular manslaughter after driving a car into a tree at 95 mph, killing his
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Michael Johnson, Troy Police Department: Resigned in
August 2014 after he was arrested for allegedly buying heroin in Hudson. The arrest sparked a 30-day unpaid suspension and internal investigation.
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Former Officer Michael Johnson, Troy Police Department: Resigned in
August 2014 after he was arrested for allegedly buying heroin in Hudson. The arrest sparked a 30-day unpaid suspension and internal
... more
Former Deputy Charles Fuller, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office: Sentenced to five years in prison in December 2014 for taking cash payments to protect a cocaine trafficker. Fuller was fired by the sheriff after his arrest.
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Former Deputy Charles Fuller, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office
: Sentenced to five years in prison in December 2014 for taking cash payments to protect a cocaine trafficker. Fuller was fired by the sheriff
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Trooper Alex Hyra, State Police: Suspended after being charged with aggravated drunken driving in
February 2015. Hyra pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and paid a $900 fine and surcharge later that month. The trooper is back on duty.
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Trooper Alex Hyra, State Police: Suspended after being charged with aggravated drunken driving in
February 2015. Hyra pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and paid a $900
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Brian Gross, Troy Police Department: Sentenced in September 2015 to three years of probation for tipping off a drug dealer about a raid in February 2014. He had pleaded guilty to divulging evidence secured by eavesdropping to its intended target and official misconduct. Gross resigned from the force after pleading guilty.
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Former Officer Brian Gross, Troy Police Department
: Sentenced in September 2015 to three years of probation for tipping off a drug dealer about a raid in February 2014. He had pleaded guilty to divulging
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Nicholas Pontore, Watervliet Police Department: Sentenced to two years in prison in January 2016 for buying cocaine from violent Troy drug gang while in a patrol car. After his arrest, Pontore quit his job and handed over evidence that led prosecutors to charge former Watervliet police Officer Joshua Spratt with sex-related offenses.
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Former Officer Nicholas Pontore, Watervliet Police Department: Sentenced to two years in prison in January 2016 for buying cocaine from violent Troy drug gang while in a patrol car. After his arrest, Pontore
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Joshua Spratt, Watervliet Police Department: Sentenced to six months in jail in January 2016 and named a Level 2 sex offender, a state designation for those at moderate risk for reoffending. Spratt pleaded guilty to felony criminal sex act in October 2015 for having sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl he met through his job as a city school resource officer.
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Former Officer Joshua Spratt, Watervliet Police Department: Sentenced to six months in jail in January 2016 and named a Level 2 sex offender, a state designation for those at moderate risk for reoffending.
... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI
Former Rensselaer County Correction Officer Kevin Rogers: Convicted in
April 2016 of embezzling money from the now-defunct Sheriff’s Employees Association of Rensselaer County from 2006 to 2011 to pay for visits to upscale restaurants, gentlemen’s clubs and boxing events. Rogers was sentenced to 60 days in jail and, after unsuccessfully appealing the conviction to the state’s highest court, surrendered to Columbia County jail in
March 2018. Rogers will also have to pay back the roughly $11,000 he stole. He was on leave from his job as a correction officer and acting as the union's vice president at the time of the crime.
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Former Rensselaer County Correction Officer Kevin Rogers: Convicted in
April 2016 of embezzling money from the now-defunct Sheriff’s Employees Association of Rensselaer County from 2006 to 2011 to pay for
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Detective Joseph McCabe, Schenectady Police Department: Resigned in the wake of a bar fight that turned bloody in
July 2016. McCabe was originally charged with misdemeanor assault and reckless driving but pleaded guilty to a harassment, a violation. The other man involved in the scuffle filed a lawsuit in
July 2017.
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Former Detective Joseph McCabe, Schenectady Police Department: Resigned in the wake of a bar fight that turned bloody in
July 2016. McCabe was originally charged with misdemeanor assault and reckless driving
... more
Former Deputy Richard Christiano, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office: Convicted of illegally selling two pistols without the owner's permission from his former Perth business, The Gun Store, in
January 2018. Christiano was charged with two counts of felony grand larceny in
September 2016 and then indicted on three counts of felony grand larceny in April. He was fired after his arrest and faces sentencing on March 29, 2018.
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Former Deputy Richard Christiano, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office: Convicted of illegally selling two pistols without the owner's permission from his former Perth business, The Gun Store, in
January 2018.
... more
Officer Eugene O'Hanlon, Albany Police Department: Suspended without pay for 30 days in January 2017 after being charged with aggravated drunken driving and several traffic violations in Saratoga Springs. O'Hanlon pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, driving while intoxicated, in August 2017. The city court judge suspended his license for six months and imposed a $895 fine and surcharge. O'Hanlon was demoted from detective to officer and reassigned to city court duty by the police department.
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Officer Eugene O'Hanlon, Albany Police Department: Suspended without pay for 30 days in January 2017 after being charged with aggravated drunken driving and several traffic violations in Saratoga Springs. ... more
Photo: Provided
Officer Kevin McKenna, Troy Police Department: Drove drunk while off-duty in
March 2017 and crashed into a marked Colonie police transport van, plowing into the vehicle’s rear driver side corner before side-swiping the door. Two Colonie police officers — whose cars had emergency lights flashing — were standing on the roadside for a routine traffic stop but were uninjured. McKenna was charged with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated and without an inspection certificate. He initially pleaded not guilty at his arraignment,
after which he was suspended from the police force without pay. A month later, McKenna pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. He was ordered to pay to $900 in fines and surcharges, plus restitution to Colonie police for vehicle damages. He was also sentenced to an ignition interlock, impaired driver program, victim impact panel and a six-month revocation of his driver license. McKenna is now back on duty in Troy.
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Officer Kevin McKenna, Troy Police Department: Drove drunk while off-duty in
March 2017 and crashed into a marked Colonie police transport van, plowing into the vehicle’s rear driver side corner before
... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Former Investigator Randy Weaver, State Police: Suspended without pay in May 2017 after being arrested for allegedly obtaining a gun despite a family court order forbidding him from having a firearm. Weaver was already on leave from the State Police when he was suspended because the March court order made it impossible for him to carry his police weapon. He was charged with felony criminal purchase of a firearm and misdemeanor criminal contempt, and pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge in October 2017. He was sentenced to a $100 fine and $205 surcharge, on the conditions that he resign from the State Police and submit to an evaluation, the Mayfield Town Court clerk said. State Police officials confirmed his resignation.
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Former Investigator Randy Weaver, State Police: Suspended without pay in May 2017 after being arrested for allegedly obtaining a gun despite a family court order forbidding him from having a firearm. Weaver was
... more
Photo: State Police
Former Sgt. Peter Farnum, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office: Indicted in
August 2017 for allegedly possessing child pornography, including images of children as young as 7. Farnum was suspended without pay the day he was arrested and later fired.
His case is now in federal court, where his lawyer is contesting the validity of the charges, given the illegal images were found and reported by his wife — with whom Farnum is locked in a bitter divorce and custody battle. The suspended sergeant is being electronically monitored at home on $50,000 bond. A judge upheld the bond in March 2018 when Farnum violated the conditions of his house arrest but warned the man there would be consequences if he broke the rules again.
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Former Sgt. Peter Farnum, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office: Indicted in
August 2017 for allegedly possessing child pornography, including images of children as young as 7. Farnum was suspended without pay
... more
Photo: Cindy Schultz
Correction Officer Brandon Austin, Albany County Sheriff’s Office: Indicted on two counts of felony sexual abuse, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse and one count of misdemeanor attempted criminal sexual act in August 2017 for allegedly forcing two female inmates to have sexual contact with him. Austin was suspended the day he was arrested. His trial date has not yet been set.
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Correction Officer Brandon Austin, Albany County Sheriff’s Office: Indicted on two counts of felony sexual abuse, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse and one count of misdemeanor attempted criminal
... more
Detective Aaron Collington, Troy Police Department: Charged with felony grand larceny in October 2017 after allegedly stealing $6,200 from the Troy Police Benevolent Association's banking account to pay his rent. Collington resigned as the union's president in September 2017, a month before his arrest and after less than a year in the position. The Albany County District Attorney's Office took over prosecution of his case in February 2018, at the request of Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove, who may call the detective as a witness in an upcoming quadruple murder trial.
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Detective Aaron Collington, Troy Police Department:
Charged with felony grand larceny in October 2017 after allegedly stealing $6,200 from the Troy Police Benevolent Association's banking account to pay his
... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Former Correction Officer Brandon M. Donaldson, Washington County Sheriff's Office: Fired after an investigation revealed Donaldson had sex with a female inmate and he was indicted on two counts of felony sex act in October 2017. Donaldson and the inmate cooperated in the investigation. The Warren County District Attorney’s Office was appointed to prosecute the case and Donaldson pleaded guilty to one count of felony sex act in January 2018. He was sentenced in February 2018 to six months in county jail and 10 years of probation. Donaldson will also be required to register as a Level 1 Sex Offender — the state’s lowest designation — when he is released. less
Former Correction Officer Brandon M. Donaldson, Washington County Sheriff's Office: Fired after an investigation revealed Donaldson had sex with a female inmate and he was indicted on two counts of felony sex ... more
Photo: Washington County Sheriff's Office
Former Sgt. Eric Sweet, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department: Placed on administrative leave after being charged with felony making terroristic threats in
November 2017. Sweet, a correction officer in the county jail, allegedly told his co-workers he would go into the control room, get a secured weapon, shoot up the control room to lock down the facility and then shoot a lieutenant before continuing to shoot more officers and inmates. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor official misconduct on
March 27 and will be sentenced on May 29, 2018, in Johnstown City Court. Sweet's employment with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office ended two weeks after his arrest, Sheriff Richard Giardino said.
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Former Sgt. Eric Sweet, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department: Placed on administrative leave after being charged with felony making terroristic threats in
November 2017. Sweet, a correction officer in the
... more
Photo: STEVE JACOBS, DG
Former Investigator Omar Snow, State Police: Ordered to pay $2,925.66 in restitution to Citizens Bank after pleading guilty to misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident on Jan. 17, 2018 in Malta Town Court. Snow was suspended from duty after being charged with two misdemeanors — falsely reporting an incident and offering a false instrument for filing — in November 2017. He was accused of lying to investigators about activity on his bank account, then later admitting that he was covering for the fact that he was giving his mistress money to support her crack habit. Snow retired in late 2017.
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Former Investigator Omar Snow, State Police: Ordered to pay $2,925.66 in restitution to Citizens Bank after pleading guilty to misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident on Jan. 17, 2018 in Malta Town Court.
... more
Photo: NY State Police
Trooper Jonathan L. Quinn, State Police: Suspended after being charged with misdemeanor assault in
November 2017. During a domestic argument, Quinn allegedly threw a piece of jewelry that struck the victim above the right eye, causing a cut and bruise. He was scheduled to see a judge in December 2017 and was back on duty in spring 2018.
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Trooper Jonathan L. Quinn, State Police: Suspended after being charged with misdemeanor assault in
November 2017. During a domestic argument, Quinn allegedly threw a piece of jewelry that struck the victim
... more
Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN
Former Officer Shawn Dixon, Albany Police Department: Suspended without pay after allegedly leaving the scene of a car crash for the second time in eight months. Dixon was ordered to pay $50 restitution after pleading guilty in August 2017 to leaving the scene of a property damage car crash, a violation. Dixon ran a red light, slammed into another car and drove away from the Pine Hills scene in May 2017. He was originally charged with misdemeanor leaving the scene of a personal injury car crash. Then, in December 2017, Dixon was charged with driving while intoxicated, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of a crash after the off-duty officer drove drunk, crashed a utility pole near a transformer and ended up in a ravine in Albany's Lincoln Park. Officers found him on State Street soon after. Dixon pleaded guilty in March 2018 to drunken driving and announced he will resign from the force following his June 1 sentencing, where he faces three years of probation. Department leadership had said earlier in March 2018 that they were considering firing him. Dixon officially resigned on April 21, 2018.
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Former Officer Shawn Dixon, Albany Police Department: Suspended without pay after allegedly leaving the scene of a car crash for the second time in eight months. Dixon was ordered to pay $50 restitution after
... more
Photo: Albany Police Department
Officer Mark McCracken, Schenectady Police Department:Charged with misdemeanor criminal contempt in January 2017 for allegedly violating an order of protection. He is accused of being "in close physical proximity" to his estranged wife, with whom he is prohibited to have contact. McCracken, once a candidate for city police chief and ranked as a lieutenant, was been suspended with pay and then demoted to the rank of patrolman on an overnight shift when he returned to work in February 2018. City Court Judge Guido Loyola adjourned the case in contemplation of dismissal in March 2018. If McCracken stays out of trouble for six months, the misdemeanor charge will be dropped.
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Officer Mark McCracken, Schenectady Police Department:
Charged with misdemeanor criminal contempt in January 2017 for allegedly violating an order of protection. He is accused of being "in close physical
... more
Photo: Michael P. Farrell
Sgt. Ronald Epstein, Troy Police Department: Accused of forging a police incident report to cover up the Troy drug unit's allegedly warrantless search of a home in June 2017. Epstein was first indicted in December 2017 on nine misdemeanor charges, including official misconduct, falsification of records and offering a false instrument for filing. He was indicted again in February 2018 on five felonies — including burglary, criminal facilitation and falsification of business records — and nine misdemeanors. Epstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently on administrative leave from the department.
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Sgt. Ronald Epstein, Troy Police Department:
Accused of forging a police incident report to cover up the Troy drug unit's allegedly warrantless search of a home in June 2017. Epstein was first indicted
... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren, Albany Times Union
Former Detective John Comitale Jr., Troy Police Department: Accused of forging a police incident report to cover up the Troy drug unit's allegedly warrantless search of a home in June 2017. Comitale was indicted in February 2018 on five felonies — including burglary, criminal facilitation and falsification of business records — and nine misdemeanors. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and retired the day he was arraigned.
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Former Detective John Comitale Jr., Troy Police Department:
Accused of forging a police incident report to cover up the Troy drug unit's allegedly warrantless search of a home in June 2017. Comitale was
... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren, Albany Times Union
Officer Arthur Burnett, Albany Police Department: Charged with driving while intoxicated in February 2018 after allegedly driving drunk and crashing his car into a guard rail on Alternate Route 7 in Colonie while off-duty. Burnett pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired, an infraction, and was sentenced to $660 in fines and surcharges in March 2018. His driver license was also suspended for 90 days. The plea deal was reached with a special prosecutor appointed by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Burnett remains suspended by Albany police as the department continues its internal investigation.
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Officer Arthur Burnett, Albany Police Department: Charged with driving while intoxicated in February 2018 after allegedly driving drunk and crashing his car into a guard rail on Alternate Route 7 in Colonie
... more
Photo: State Police
Chief Leslie R. Klein, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for allegedly sanctioning the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers completed mandated training courses when they had not. Klein has pleaded not guilty to first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony.
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Chief Leslie R. Klein, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for allegedly sanctioning the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers
... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI, Albany Times Union
Sgt. Mark E. LaViolette, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers completed mandated training courses when they had not. LaViolette — a former Schenectady police officer who also works full-time as Schenectady County's director of emergency management — has pleaded not guilty to first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony. He has been put on leave from his job as the county's director of emergency management but will continue to collect his nearly
$67,000 a year salary.
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Sgt. Mark E. LaViolette, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated
... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI, Albany Times Union
Sgt. David Goodwin, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers completed mandated training courses when they had not. Goodwin has pleaded not guilty to first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony.
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Sgt. David Goodwin, Galway Police Department: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers
... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI, Albany Times Union
Deputy Mark Kirker, Schenectady County Sheriff's Office: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers completed mandated training courses when they had not. Kirker has pleaded not guilty to first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony. Kirker was a Glenville police officer at the time of the alleged crimes and the sheriff’s office said he has been
suspended.
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Deputy Mark Kirker, Schenectady County Sheriff's Office: Arrested in
May 2018 for his alleged involvement in the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely
... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI, Albany Times Union
Police: Schenectady cop faces drunk driving charges
SCHENECTADY — An off-duty city cop faces drunken driving charges after a motor vehicle wreck a few blocks from the police department over the weekend, according to Schenectady police.
There were no injuries.
Patrolman Daniel Coppola, 23, was behind the wheel of car that was struck after the driver of a second vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Broadway and Liberty Street at 4:15 a.m. Sunday, police said. That vehicle operator was driving with a suspended license.
Police determined during the investigation into the wreck that Coppolla was intoxicated.
As a result, he was charged with driving while intoxicated and placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an internal probe into the crash. He joined the police force in July 2015.
Police Chief Eric Clifford in a statement said Tuesday that " all Schenectady police officers are expected to set an example to the community."
"I hold each and every officer to the highest possible standards," he added. "When officers break the law, they will be held accountable like any other citizen."