Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Court Report
By Richard Blassberg
Harrison Town Board Sitting As Police
Commissioners Suspend 3 Police Officers
As Rightly Recommended By Chief Hall
Town Code Enforcer Also Suspended After Second Executive Session
Last Thursday evening, the Harrison Town Board, meeting as Town Police Commissioners, went quickly into executive session accompanied
by Police Chief David Hall to discuss and deliberate a personnel matter involving three veteran Harrison Police Officers ranging in service
with the Department from seven to seventeen years; Detectives Richard Light and Frank Massaro, and Police Officer Mike DiLauria, all accused of inappropriate conduct involving use of the Internet.
It had been brought to the attention of Supervisor Joan Walsh, 74, that she had become the object of inappropriate and insubordinate sexual and personal observations, dialogue and ridicule, on the pages of Facebook.com. At the same site, President Barack Obama was ridiculed
with racist humor. It should be noted Detective Light is also a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed nine months ago by a Harrison teen who accused him of sexually abusing her.
After more than an hour submerged in executive session, during which time some 40 residents and spectators, including a dozen or so past
and present Harrison police officers, had joined the crowd together with reporters from local, as well as most major New York television stations, the police commissioners emerged and announced the outcome of their deliberations.
Supervisor Walsh declared, “The Police Chief has recommended that we suspend three police officers, effective immediately. He will
be conducting an investigation and reporting to the Board.”
Supervisor Walsh, attempting to avoid a dialogue with reporters concerning a personnel matter, nonetheless acknowledged that she was
upset with having been targeted on the Internet.
Following the announcement of the officers’ suspensions, Chief Hall left the courtroom and took questions from reporters in the lobby of Town Hall. Hall declared, “I expect my of-ficers to act the way I act. I don’t use that kind of language. It’s intolerable.”
He then proceeded to answer several questions. When asked by this reporter, “Chief, might it be in the best interest of the Department if you bring in an independent investigator,” Hall, who appeared disappointed and disgusted with the actions of the accused officers, responded, “That might be necessary.”
Showing posts with label Town of Harrison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Town of Harrison. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Westchester Guardian/The Court Report.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Court Report
By Richard Blassberg
Harrison Police Crack Brutal Home Invasion Case
Prior to their arraignment in Harrison Town Court at noon on Thursday, Jan. 22, before Judge Ronald Bianci, the six perpetrators involved in a violent home invasion robbery at 209 Union Avenue in Harrison, Wednesday, September 3, 2008, between 7:10-7:30pm, were the subject of a press conference at Harrison Police Headquarters two hours earlier. Their victims had been William and Freida Schwartz, 75 and 73 years old,
respectively, a husband and wife, together with a caretaker, who had been brutalized and seriously injured; their heads slammed on their garage floor
before parting with cash, jewelery and their late-model Mercedes-Benz.
Harrison Police Captain Anthony Marraccini told reporters, “It was a very difficult case.” He then said, reassuringly, “But we got them all.” Marraccini, without specifying, then said, “They were involved in other crimes in other jurisdictions.”
Police Chief Dave Hall took over the microphone, declaring, “It’s a great day for the Harrison Police Department and all of the other agencies involved.” He went on, “The investigation was headed by Captain Marraccini, and involved the Bronx NYPD Robbery Squad, Steve Vandervelden, of the DA’s Of-fice, and the New York State Police, as well as Harrison officers Olson and Lucas and numerous other detectives and officers
‘bulldogging’ it.”
Vandervelden, head of the DA’s Organized Crime Squad, spoke up, declaring, “The investigation was tremendous work by the Harrison Police on this heinous crime.” He promised, “They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Chief Hall, stepping back behind the microphone, ex-plained to reporters that Gary Pilavdjian was the ringleader, a contractor who did work at the
victims’ home, casing it and setting them up. He explained that Pilavdjian and John Mandracchia planned the robbery and recruited the others.
The Guardian asked, “What weapons were used in the Harrison home invasion?” Hall responded, “No guns were used; only their fists.” Neither Hall nor Marraccini were willing to respond when The Guardian asked, “What other evidence of crimes was discovered when the arrest warrants were executed?” Hall did, however, reveal that the investigation took police to the Bronx; Brooklyn; Columbia, South Carolina; and New Orleans,
Louisiana.
All six perpetrators have been preliminarily charged with First Degree Burglary, a Class-B Felony punishable by up to 25 years in State Prison. Hall indicated that he expected Assault, Robbery and Home Invasion charges to be added. The case will be heard by a grand jury this week.
The Court Report
By Richard Blassberg
Harrison Police Crack Brutal Home Invasion Case
Prior to their arraignment in Harrison Town Court at noon on Thursday, Jan. 22, before Judge Ronald Bianci, the six perpetrators involved in a violent home invasion robbery at 209 Union Avenue in Harrison, Wednesday, September 3, 2008, between 7:10-7:30pm, were the subject of a press conference at Harrison Police Headquarters two hours earlier. Their victims had been William and Freida Schwartz, 75 and 73 years old,
respectively, a husband and wife, together with a caretaker, who had been brutalized and seriously injured; their heads slammed on their garage floor
before parting with cash, jewelery and their late-model Mercedes-Benz.
Harrison Police Captain Anthony Marraccini told reporters, “It was a very difficult case.” He then said, reassuringly, “But we got them all.” Marraccini, without specifying, then said, “They were involved in other crimes in other jurisdictions.”
Police Chief Dave Hall took over the microphone, declaring, “It’s a great day for the Harrison Police Department and all of the other agencies involved.” He went on, “The investigation was headed by Captain Marraccini, and involved the Bronx NYPD Robbery Squad, Steve Vandervelden, of the DA’s Of-fice, and the New York State Police, as well as Harrison officers Olson and Lucas and numerous other detectives and officers
‘bulldogging’ it.”
Vandervelden, head of the DA’s Organized Crime Squad, spoke up, declaring, “The investigation was tremendous work by the Harrison Police on this heinous crime.” He promised, “They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Chief Hall, stepping back behind the microphone, ex-plained to reporters that Gary Pilavdjian was the ringleader, a contractor who did work at the
victims’ home, casing it and setting them up. He explained that Pilavdjian and John Mandracchia planned the robbery and recruited the others.
The Guardian asked, “What weapons were used in the Harrison home invasion?” Hall responded, “No guns were used; only their fists.” Neither Hall nor Marraccini were willing to respond when The Guardian asked, “What other evidence of crimes was discovered when the arrest warrants were executed?” Hall did, however, reveal that the investigation took police to the Bronx; Brooklyn; Columbia, South Carolina; and New Orleans,
Louisiana.
All six perpetrators have been preliminarily charged with First Degree Burglary, a Class-B Felony punishable by up to 25 years in State Prison. Hall indicated that he expected Assault, Robbery and Home Invasion charges to be added. The case will be heard by a grand jury this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
