I was missin' ya too kevin. Glad you have time to play catch up with us.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I have the solution to the issue of corrupt police in the Capital Region: Make them immune from any legal action, regardless of the violations of trust they perpetrate on the community. Might as well, as they seem to be immune from being fired, regardless of what they do. It would save the communities they represent a great deal of money by not having to go after them. This is especially true in Schenectady. The union is too powerful to be challenged. Worse than the “bent” cops are the so-called good cops who continually cover for the bad ones. Do they really think those bad ones will be there in a life-or-death situation to cover them? Are they ready to trust someone who continually violates trust? I think not. At the age of 70, I look back, sadly, at the deep respect I had for the police, and regret I no longer feel the same. BOB COVENEY Malta
SCHENECTADY Move slows police chief hiring Top scorer on test drops out BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The highest scorer on the city police chief exam has bowed out, delaying the hiring process by another week. City officials now must wait to see if Poughkeepsie police Capt. Steven W. Minard wants to be considered for the chief position. He was the fourth-highest scorer, pushing him off the list until one of the top three dropped out. That scenario was generally expected because the top scorer confessed that he did no research into Schenectady and knew nothing about the city before taking the Civil Service exam. Suffolk County Police Department Lt. William Hasper also said he didn’t study for the exam but wanted to see how well he could do. His main concern, he said at the time, was to assure his superiors that his high score didn’t mean he would be leaving Suffolk County. Last week, he told Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett that he wasn’t interested in the Schenectady job. Bennett immediately contacted Minard, who has 10 days to decide whether he wants to join the chief candidates. Despite the delay, Bennett said, he still expects a chief to be named by the end of July — and the sooner the better, as far as he is concerned. Some residents have suggested that Bennett take on the role of commissioner and chief, a role he has managed since Chief Michael N. Geraci left last November. But Bennett said that would force him to do the impossible: be both judge and prosecution in police discipline cases. The chief is supposed to review all internal affairs investigations, checking Deputy Chief Mark Chaires’ analysis of what charges could be levied, based on the evidence. In the chief’s absence, Chaires is essentially working without anyone to check his investigations, Bennett said. “We’re essentially having somebody confirm their own work. That’s never good,” he said. “It should go through another level of scrutiny.” Bennett can’t provide that because officers who face disciplinary charges must plead guilty or plead their cases before him. If he is to decide whether they are guilty, he can’t be the person who decides to levy the charges against them. It would look like he’d already made his decision before holding a trial, he said. “There’s a due process issue, in my opinion,” he added. “Because I do the disciplinary hearings, it makes it a bit awkward when you don’t have a police chief.” Because the position is so important, he plans to quickly comes to a decision with Mayor Brian U. Stratton. The two men will conduct every interview jointly. That’s a change from the last chief promotion, when Commissioner Daniel Boyle and Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski met with the candidates separately. Bennett said he’s happier to do the interviews with the mayor. “The wise way to do it is to have everyone present at the interview so there’s no error as to what the person said,” Bennett said. Interviews will start in about a week, after Minard accepts or declines an invitation to join the other candidates, Bennett said. By order of their Civil Service test scores, the candidates are retired Albany police commander Steven E. Stella (80), city Deputy Chief Michael J. Seber (76), Troy Assistant Chief John F. Tedesco (72), Chaires (70) and Minard (70). Both deputy chiefs also get four points for their city experience, pushing Seber into a first-place tie with Stella.
kevin march, are you on the ski team? I was a lousy waterskiier and havent been in years. I give you a lot of credit for putting all that effort into the sport and being on this team. I will watch for you when the wife and I go down to JJ's. I will introduce myself if I can figure out which skier you are, you write some good postings here.
I think Kevin said it was his kids that were on the ski team. Right Kevin?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
That scenario was generally expected because the top scorer confessed that he did no research into Schenectady and knew nothing about the city before taking the Civil Service exam.
what a lame reason???????? I dont believe it
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
kevin march, are you on the ski team? I was a lousy waterskiier and havent been in years. I give you a lot of credit for putting all that effort into the sport and being on this team. I will watch for you when the wife and I go down to JJ's. I will introduce myself if I can figure out which skier you are, you write some good postings here.
Actually, I am officially part of the team, but you won't find me out on skis at all. This year's show is "Mohawk, The Musical." I am the one that was/is playing the Producer at the beginning / end. Feel free to let me know who you are. You just might want to remind me who you are.
Burglar freed after pleading guilty Shot at scene, man says he's lucky to be alive; ruling upsets victims
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Friday, July 4, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- John Phillip Sayers says he feels like he's been given a new lease on life and he has the gunshot wounds to prove it. "It's a new beginning for my life because I could have died, but I didn't," Sayers said Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after he pleaded guilty to a burglary count and was ordered freed by the judge after being given credit for time served.
The 21-year-old city man's brush with death occurred during the early morning hours of Oct. 14 when he was shot once in the chest by the co-owner of a Schenectady business after the man and his son interrupted Sayers burglarizing their business, Funn Electronics Inc. The establishment was closed at the time.
Schenectady County Judge Karen Drago on Wednesday sentenced Sayers to a one year county jail term after he pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary as part of a plea deal. But he was given credit for time served and released from jail the same day and arrived home around 2 p.m.
During an earlier bedside interview with the Times Union, days after the shooting, Sayers said he heard the shooter, Donald Khemraj, 59, cock the gun as his son, Roger, urged him to kill Sayers.
Sayers said police arrived at that moment, sparing him from what he thought would be certain death, but not before being shot below his right armpit.
The Khemrajs, on the other hand, have said Sayers told them he had a gun and that Donald Khemraj opened fire only after Sayers ignored their orders to stay inside the store and tried to escape.
Roger Khemraj, 34, on Thursday reacted angrily to the news Sayers had been freed.
"I am upset," he said, adding he fears Sayers may have his buddies vandalize the establishment. He also accused the city of targeting his business for alleged code violations since the shooting. As a result, he has put it up for sale and plans to open a store in Queens.
Roger Khemraj also insists Sayers had threatened them with a pipe wrench.
Assistant District Attorney William Sanderson, however, said the sentence was appropriate because Sayers had no prior criminal history and had cooperated with authorities. He said he also feels Sayers' close call and wounds will deter him from more criminal activity.
As part of the plea deal, Sayers says he was ordered to stay away from Albany Street until 2011, forbidden from having any contact with the store owners, and has 60 days to pay $30 in court fines.
Sayers, who was represented by Public Defenders Stephen Signore and William Lotze, had originally been charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief.
Sayers' great grandmother, Ann Seay, said Thursday she expects him in the house by 9 p.m. now that he is back home. "He's gotta go by the rules," Seay said from the home in the city's Vale neighborhood. "If he ain't in by 9, then there is no use in him living here."
Sayers said for now he is just happy to be alive and wants to find a job and get his life back on track. Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
Schenectady police give little feedback Only six responses come after councilor's request for officers' opinions
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published: Monday, July 7, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- City Council member Gary McCarthy tried to do something about continued problems in the police department by asking officers how things could be improved. But after stuffing more than 160 department mailboxes at the end of February with the letter requesting comments from officers and dispatchers, McCarthy got back only six responses -- two e-mails and four letters.
The request was part of a series of discussions McCarthy has held during City Council public safety committee meetings in the wake of November's grand jury report blasting the department for decades of mismanagement and a recent investigation into an alleged beating of a DWI suspect in December.
The responses, which McCarthy provided to the Times Union upon request, point to frustration over poor leadership and Mayor Brian U. Stratton's public criticism of the force. Respondents also complained about inadequate staffing and a lack of preventive policing.
Two respondents said some officers "sit on calls," meaning they take too much time to wrap up a call so they won't have to go out on as many calls a day.
"I have seen units in Iraq take serious casualties, I mean 4-5 guys killed at once, and the morale was higher than here," said one March 27 letter writer who requested anonymity.
One respondent, who wrote a six-page anonymous letter, said respect for officers on the street has eroded in part due to the mayor's open criticism of the department.
"No one is standing in our corner helping us; we are not 'thugs and cowboys,' as the mayor has stated," wrote the respondent, referring to a comment Stratton made in his second-term inaugural address in January. "We have a dangerous job in a very insecure and unforgiving city."
Stratton said he stands by what he's said in the past.
"I wasn't elected necessarily to be the police department's buddy," Stratton said. "We have a very serious job to do. This department has been through too much and we absolutely need to set a zero-tolerance policy."
Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said a complaint that officers are sent on too many nonpolice calls was a valid one, and that he'll look into having dispatchers do a better job of weeding out calls.
But mostly, Bennett said, there are too few responses to draw conclusions about how officers feel as a whole. He said insults in the letters concerning certain department heads, including himself, showed the writers also likely have personal biases. But Bennett said McCarthy's effort has inspired him to look into an anonymous internal comment system.
"It's sad in a way that here you have people who had an opportunity to respond," Bennett said. "I gave (union leader) Bob Hamilton my assurance no one would be retaliated against, yet only these people responded."
Lauren Stanforth can be reached at 454-5697 or by e-mail at lstanforth@timesunion.com.
Commissioner wants Schenectady cops to handle crimes only Tuesday, July 8, 2008 By Kathleen Moore (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — City code enforcers may be asked to take on some police duties under a new proposal from Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett. He thinks police are being sent on far too many non-emergency calls because no one else in the city is equipped to deal with neighbor disputes, noise complaints and other non-criminal issues. “They’re not violations of the criminal code,” Bennett said. “They’re not really police matters. There’s no reason for police to keep going back, settling property disputes that go on week after week, year after year. But lacking anyone else to respond ...” He wants other city officials to handle non-emergency complaints, even though angry residents would almost certainly have to wait until the next business day to get any response to their problem. “Maybe they could call code,” Bennett said. “You’re warned x number of times by the code enforcer and then you’re cited. The code officer could do that.” He added that a fine issued by code enforcement could have a more lasting effect than a visit from a police officer, particularly in noise complaints. “Once the police leave, the noise goes back on again,” he said. “Maybe if they get fined, they’ll stop.” On the other hand, residents have long complained that police should issue tickets for noise violations. But the infraction is a violation of city code, not state criminal statutes. Bennett said handing the code violations to code enforcers should be considered because city police are desperately needed for bigger crimes. “Given the history of the police department that’s been strapped for personnel, is this an appropriate use of personnel?” he said. “It’s wasting the resources. There’s got to be a better way.” Other city officials have not yet responded to requests for comment, but city Councilman Gary McCarthy agreed police handle too many non-criminal complaints. “The PD is your high-priced babysitter,” he said.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY County to hire 20 jail guards Union rejects contract offer BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Schenectady County officials expect to meet a state mandate to hire 20 additional corrections officers at the jail next year at a cost of approximately $1 million, putting further pressure on efforts to develop a balanced budget for 2009 while facing declining revenues and other increasing costs. Separately, corrections officers voted Monday to reject a three-year contract with the county, although two other elements of the same bargaining unit did approve the agreement. The county is hiring the extra officers under order by the state Commission of Correction. The state is mandating that staffi ng increase to approximately 160 officers and supervisors. The jail has 140 officers currently. The state issued the order in 2006 as part of a report critical of county procedures that led to the escape of a dangerous jail inmate earlier that year. The commission is a state agency charged with overseeing local jails and with establishing standards for their operation. County Attorney Chris Gardner said the county intends to comply. “We don’t have a choice.” A spokesman for the union representing corrections officers earlier called the jail “grossly understaffed” for years. Sheriff Harry Buffardi said he included money in his 2008-2009 budget for the extra offi - cers. He said each officer costs, on average, $50,000, which includes salary and benefits. Buffardi on Tuesday said he expects the added staffing will help reduce his annual overtime budget. He budgeted $1.5 million for overtime this year. He has not determined his overtime budget for 2009, saying he hasn’t calculated the figure yet. “There would be some savings,” Buffardi said. He said he will still have to use overtime at the jail, even with the added staffing. “We will always have overtime for things that don’t fit into schedules, like transporting prisoners,” he said. Buffardi’s total budget in 2008 is $11.7 million, of which $9.5 million covers jail operations. The remainder is for administrative costs, for the road patrol and for the sheriff’s civil office. Buffardi said he is trying to control costs at the county jail but must comply with the state order. “I would like to run this place at minimal staffing cost. I don’t want more government here; the state is demanding this,” he said. He said staffing is an issue in jails throughout the state. In some instances, the commission has ordered counties to build new jails. The state commission issued its report during Buffardi’s reelection campaign. Buffardi, a Democrat, easily won a third four-year term despite the harsh report. Democratic Party leaders called the report’s timing political. The state also cited jail understaffing as a contributing factor in the August 2007 gang assault of a young inmate. Buffardi at the time denied that understaffi ng was a cause, rather that the jail guard overseeing the inmates failed to do his job. The jail guard resigned rather than face internal charges of gross negligence. UNION VOTE Gardner said the 140 officers voted against the agreement because of increases in health care co-payments, among other issues. The specific vote count was not available. “The union wants to go back and talk to their members,” Gardner said. “We will continue to negotiate until there is an impasse.” The state Public Employment Relations Board would mediate any impasse, he said. Union President Ron Walsh had no comment, other than to say, “We will continue negotiations.” The corrections officers are members of the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Benevolent Association. Two other units of the PBA, the 10-member road patrol and the 17-member supervisors’ unit, approved the contract Monday, Gardner said. They will receive 3 percent raises in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The road patrol will also receive a 3 percent raise retroactive to 2006. The Schenectady County Legislature Tuesday night voted to approve the agreement with the two groups. The contract is similar to those approved by the county’s two other major bargaining units, the 800-member Local 847 of the Civil Service Employees Association and the 180-member SEIU District Council 1199. The county expects to save more than $2 million by 2008 through changes in health care coverage. Sheriff Harry Buffardi said he sought unsuccessfully to include two provisions in the contract. He wanted to authorize random drug testing for employees and also authorize mandatory overtime for shifts in the jail. Currently, the sheriff can only order an employee to undergo drug testing for cause and supervisors can only offer overtime to department personnel who request it. Buffardi said a prior court case determined the county cannot enforce mandatory overtime except in emergencies. The corrections officers, in turn, wanted to eliminate Buffardi’s disciplinary system, he said. The system allows him to easily fire corrections officers. Officers can attempt to recover their jobs through arbitration, however.
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