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http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=717844

Man tells Schenectady police he was slashed

Wait, I thought Gillen said there was no crime downtown ... this can't be true

Well, it did come from the TU. I guess we need to question, since the Gazette's the ones that make sure they always check the facts...

Ahhh....FAIR AND BALANCED!

A question that troubles me is why would the police officer not turn on his dash camera unless there was something going on that he didn't want anyone to see.

Shouldn't they turn on automatically?

Not if you manually turn them off.

There shouldn't be that option on them.

I think one important fact is being missed ... nobody is claiming he was slashed INSIDE or on the grounds of Quizno's, just in the area and Q's was the only business he found open to get help ... police wouldn't have reason to expect a "crime" - all they had was a victim.

I was referring to the 3 police officers who are currently suspended. One turned off his dash cam and that's why he's being charged.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Now that one is pretty funny..........

I kinda chuckled over my morning coffee when I saw it! Good one!

http://www.timesunion.com

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Police review at standstill
Civil rights probe begun by Justice Department in 2002 remains unfinished

By JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST, Staff writer
First published: Saturday, September 6, 2008

SCHENECTADY -- More than six years after it began -- and as three more officers appeared before a county judge Friday -- a federal civil rights review of the city police department remains unfinished with no timeline for the Justice Department to complete its work.
The review began in 2002 as an outgrowth of an FBI probe of departmental corruption that led to prison time for four officers on drug charges. Civil rights investigators began scrutinizing whether city police showed a "pattern or practice" of violating citizens' rights.

     
And while the Civil Rights Division released a preliminary report more than five years ago, there has been no public progress since March 2003, leading some to conclude the review has stalled amid new Justice Department priorities such as counterterrorism.

Scot Montrey, a spokesman for the Civil Rights Division, said via e-mail Friday that he could "confirm that the review is still open and ongoing" but declined further comment. Montrey declined to say if there is a timeline for its completion.

Among the report's criticisms was that there was no clear policy on deadly force, prompting the department to adopt new guidelines. The officers arraigned Friday were charged with misdemeanor official misconduct for allegedly failing to fill out "use of force" paperwork after an altercation with a suspect.

None of the three -- officers Andrew Karaskiewicz, Eric Reyell and Gregory Hafensteiner -- was charged with anything stemming from the actual physical altercation.

The charges mark at least the 11th time a city officer has been arrested in the past decade and come a year after a former vice squad detective, Jeffrey Curtis, was sentenced to prison for stealing drug evidence.

The trouble, said Melanie Trimble, executive director of the Capital Region chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, is trying to determine whether these are just the actions of rogue officers.

"How systemic is the problem? That's what the Justice Department needs to come back and find out for us," said Trimble.

"There's just too many incidences of bad police behavior," Trimble said, "and since the investigation is still open, we believe that there is an opportunity to ... relaunch an investigation of where the department is now and what needs to be done."

Mayor Brian U. Stratton did not return a message left at his office, though he did release a statement about the arrests. Asked through a police spokesman whether he thought the Justice Department should expedite its probe, Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said it has full access to the department if it desires.

"We wouldn't reach out to them at this point," the spokesman, Lt. Brian Kilcullen said.

Glenn Suddaby, the U.S. Attorney for New York's Northern District, also did not return a call seeking comment.

In February 2007, Stratton said he believed the federal review was "largely done" and that "no news is, perhaps, good news."

At the time, then-police Chief Michael Geraci said he was under the impression that the Justice Department was pleased with the department's progress and suggested Washington may be giving more attention to larger departments.

Kevin Luibrand, a Latham attorney who has represented a dozen people in civil rights claims against the Schenectady police over the years, said there's been nothing but silence from Washington.

"They have not had any contact with us in at least four years," Luibrand said. "I'd be really surprised if anybody is doing any work on it in the Justice Department."

Jordan Carleo-Evangelist can be reached at 454-5445 or by e-mail at jcarleo-evangelist@ timesunion.com.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Problem with Sch’dy police isn’t the cops, but the managers

    They have been called rogues, thugs and cowboys by their own department and city. They have been suspended for more than eight months to sit and wait for their fate from the grand jury of the New York state attorney general’s office. Finally, the day arrived and they were brought before Judge Karen Drago in Schenectady City Court and read their indictments — official misconduct, which means they did not file the appropriate paperwork, and one of them did not turn on their camera during the transport of the criminal. All I can say is, really?
    The city of Schenectady and the New York state taxpayers should be asto unded and ashamed that their government wasted time and resources on such a frivolous case. Three police officers, all of whom have been commended by the city for going above and beyond for the citizens of Schenectady during their careers, are being treated like criminals because they didn’t fully comply with department policy (filing a Use of Force form). This is an embarrassment for all people involved with the case. I think we have put these men through enough and they should be given the respect and decency they deserved nine months ago. It is time for the city of Schenectady and its police department to move on.
    I feel it is time for a member of the Schenectady police family to say enough is enough. We want these men and women to willingly go to work every day with the possibility of never returning home to their loved ones. However, they are working with a community that is against them, hindering their ability to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. And, now, they are working for a department that continues to ineffectively and unsuccessfully manage itself and a mayor who considers them guilty before any formal investigation. I think it is time for us to consider the reasons this department continues in the same direction.
    They have removed several offi cers they believed to be acting inappropriately; however, all of the administrative staff that was in the department during the beginning of the demise remains in the department in positions of authority. I understand a police department is not a traditional business, but if I were the CEO (or, in this case, the mayor) of this particular company (Schenectady Police Department), I would start replacing my executives (assistant chiefs) and managers (lieutenants) because they are obviously not accomplishing their goal of leadership. Instead, they are leading a group of men and women who rightfully feel agitated and carry a low morale.
    And now these officers have to fear losing their jobs with the potential of being criminally prosecuted all because they didn’t fill out a form. The scariest part to all of this is the fact (and real possibility) that one of the above “leaders” for the department may actually become the next chief of police. It’s time to reevaluate “leadership” that believes in ego and self-promotion above the safety and security of their own community. Let’s stop having our officers led by incompetent people.
    CATERINE WRIGHT
    Schenectady