https://www.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/Chief-Discipline-in-Schenectady-police-drunken-12926487.php
Chief: Discipline in Schenectady police drunken-driving case may happen soon
Updated 9:45 pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
Daniel Coppola
Daniel Coppola
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.
lessFormer 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
... moreFormer 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.
lessFormer 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
... moreFormer 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.
lessFormer 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
... morePleaded 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.
lessPleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property after being charged in August 2011 with two felonies. Kreppein — a former commander of the
... moreFormer 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.
lessFormer 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 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.
lessFormer 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
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: 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.
less: 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
: 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.
less: 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
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.
lessFormer 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
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.
lessFormer 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.
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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 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.
lessFormer 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
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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 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
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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.
lessCharged with felony grand larceny in October 2017 after allegedly stealing $6,200 from the Troy Police Benevolent Association's banking account to pay his
... moreFormer 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.
lessFormer 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.
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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 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.
lessFormer 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
... moreCharged 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.
lessCharged with misdemeanor criminal contempt in January 2017 for allegedly violating an order of protection. He is accused of being "in close physical
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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.
lessAccused 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
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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.
lessAccused 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
... moreOfficer 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.
lessOfficer 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
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Officer Daniel Coppola, Schenectady Police Department: Charged with driving while intoxicated in May 2018, after another driver slammed into his car in Schenectady. Responding officers determined Coppola, who was off-duty at the time, was drunk, police said. He was placed on desk duty after his arrest, as the department launched an internal investigation.
lessOfficer Daniel Coppola, Schenectady Police Department: Charged with driving while intoxicated in May 2018, after another driver slammed into his car in Schenectady. Responding officers determined Coppola, who
... moreSCHENECTADY — Police Chief Eric Clifford said the city patrolman facing drunken driving charges stemming from Sunday's motor vehicle crash may face disciplinary charges early next week.
But Clifford on Friday said even when the internal probe wraps up he may hold off on a decision pending how a judge rules on whether to suspend Officer Daniel Coppola driver's license, which he needs to do his job.
"It's possible he could go on (disciplinary) charges Monday, and if we make a decision by Monday, we may actually move faster than these court proceedings, which is really the new way of doing things," the chief said, referring to to the state law that now determines police discipline with Public Safety Commissioner Michael Eidens in charge. "This situation is not going to be taken lightly and I will hold him accountable."
At the same time, Clifford said it speaks to integrity of Coppola, 23, that he called in the wreck to police after being hit by a motorist, who police say was driving without a license at the time of the crash at 4:14 a.m. Sunday at Broadway and Liberty Street in Schenectady. It's unclear if that driver has been charged.
"He does not have a history of discipline," said Clifford of Coppola, noting that will be among the many factors he will weigh when deciding on discipline.
Court documents indicate Coppola's eyes were glassy, his speech was deliberate, and he smelled of alcohol. He failed standardized field sobriety tests to stand on one leg and the horizontal gaze nystagmus but passed the walk and turn test.
Copolla, who had a blood alcohol content of 0.12 percent, pleaded not guilty Thursday in City Court to two counts of driving while intoxicated. He is due back in court June 7.
In New York, the legal threshold to be charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, is 0.08 percent.
The court filings indicate that Coppola was read his Miranda rights at around 5:20 a.m. and was charged with DWI. Roughly about 20 minutes later at 5:42 a.m., he was placed under observation, as the law requires. The subsequent breath test, where his blood alcohol content came in at 0.12 percent, was given at 6:21 a.m.
Asked about the police handling of the matter, Clifford said everything was done by the book.
"The two-hour time frame doesn't stand out as a problem and is not outside the boundary of reasonableness," he said.
Eric Sills, an Albany-based attorney, said Friday that "with certain exceptions, the 'two-hour rule' provides that the police must administer a chemical ( blood or breath) test to a DWI suspect within two hours of the time of the person's arrest.
He also stressed that that it is common for the defendant to leave the arraignment with their driver's license.
"Although a driver's license is technically supposed to be suspended pending prosecution at arraignment, the defendant has the right to a pre-suspension hearing, as well as the right to an adjournment to prepare for the hearing," Sills said.
Clifford said he didn't know but he suspects that Lt. Wesley McGhee, the supervisor on duty the night of the incident, didn't respond but had to be called to the scene, which might also have prevented Coppola from getting the Breathlyzer test earlier.
"I don't know if it caused a delay but it could have," said Clifford.
As part of Thursday's proceeding, City Court Judge Teneka Frost ruled she couldn't suspend Coppola's license, which normally happens when somebody is arraigned on a DWI charge, because a certified copy of the breath test was not contained in the court files.
Clifford said Friday that the department provided a copy of the breath test signed by the officer, "which is typically acceptable" and that an police officer would have had to drive to Albany to get the certified state copy.
"We provided everything that we normally provide, which has historically been accepted by the judge, but (the judge) didn't feel it was appropriate," said Clifford.
Court papers indicate that Coppola, 23, told the responding officer that he was driving home from Union Inn after having two beers.
Attorney Andrew Safranko, who is representing Coppola, said his client, is remorseful and has cooperated fully with authorities during the probe.
"He apologizes to the chief and the members of the department for casting a negative light on the department," said Safranko. "He's a young man, loves loves being a police officer, and apologizes for getting in this situation at all."
For now, Coppola, who is 23 with two years on the force, remains on desk duty, watching prisoners and taking police reports, Clifford said.
Coppola is the stepson of Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino.
Over the years, several police officers in Schenectady and Albany have run afoul of the law after drinking and get behind the wheel of a car, in some cases striking parked cars and other stationary objects.
