March 05, 2009
Newspaper: Eliminate Schenectady Police Department
On the very morning the local newspaper called for the elimination of the scandal-ridden Schenectady police department, a police daytime supervisor reportedly went to dentist while on duty.
Year after year, local governments have fought efforts by the state Legislature to undermine their efforts to discipline their own employees.
Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that would have required an outside arbitrator to preside over disciplinary cases that might lead to the firing of a unionized public employee. Governor David Paterson vetoed the bill in July, making him the fourth governor to do so.
Despite the veto, the Schenectady police union is fighting efforts of the Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett (the widely respected retired superintendent of State Police) to personally preside over departmental discipline hearings.
In an editorial Wednesday, the Schenectady Daily Gazette wrote the city police department "is now averaging one embarrassing episode a week (compared to one every two weeks previously)." Heading the list is a culture that makes officers think they can do just about anything and get away with it, and a contract and compliant arbitrators that basically prove them right. Noting the city (whose ex-Police Chief Gregory Kaczmarek was recently convicted for his participation in a drug ring) has tried many times to clean up the department, the editorial offered two new possiblities.
One harkens back to the 1890s when the state, using its emergency powers, created a commission headed by Theodore Roosevelt to rid the New York City Police Department of bad cops. Of course New York's cops didn't have a union contract like Schenectady's have, the state Taylor Law, civil service law, and all. So it might not be possible.
Or, how about abolishing the department and having the county assume responsibility, either creating a force of its own (countywide or just for the city), expanding the sheriff's department to do the work, or contracting with the state police? On Wednesday, Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton--after learning that Sergeant Eric Clifford was observed by another dental patient having his teeth cleaned while on duty--praised the editorial and sent a warning to city cops."Sooner or later, if these things continue, it's going to become impossible for them to do their jobs." In addition to dental appointments, Schenectady cops have been caught attending bowling tournaments and making unauthorized three-hour visits to a downtown apartment during their shifts. The later episode involved the city's highest paid officer, who with overtime earned $168,000 last year.
On Sunday, an off-duty Schenectady police officer was arrested for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident in nearby Colonie.
This month, Bennett is scheduled to hear disciplinary cases involving two police officers. One has been accused of punching a bar patron and fighting with cops who responded to the call. He also has been charged with leaving the scene of personal injury accident.
The second case involves an officer accused in several domestic violence incidents, fighting with his brother (also a cop) and drunken driving.
Space here doesn't permit an entire recitation of the Schenectady Police Department's disciplinary problems.
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