Southold Town Police (Southold Town photo), our Hamptons Insider newsletters delivered direct to you. Southold Town police arrested a 45-year-old Mattituck woman who reportedly made dozens of calls to police in a 12-hour period Saturday morning. Steven Zuhoski when he told a reporter the following day that he was unaware the party had taken place and that the department received no complaints. Officer Zuhoski testified during the trial that he used no racial epithets and only enough force to subdue Mr. Mims, who he said was resisting arrest. John Sinning, of federal civil-rights charges that they used excessive force and racial epithets during two separate incidents involving Mr. Mims in 1998. A WHITE police officer from the Town of Southold found liable by a federal jury in the beating of a black resident will remain on active duty with the all-white full-time force, town officials said last week. We will ultimately determine if discipline is warranted, and to what extent that discipline should be.. Protocols in place at the time from the office of then-Gov. The Appellate Division further held that Mr. Lake was entitled to discovery of the evidence upon which it was alleged his termination was based, which the lower court had denied. James Ginas was named acting chief as an investigation heats up into the departments alleged quashing of complaints over an officers retirement party. Three of the numbers correspond to police officers John Hinton,Daniel Mackey and Sgt. SOUTHOLD, NY A fired Suffolk County "Top Cop" who has long maintained that he was wrongfully dismissed will have his day in court. ''It is my hope that through this litigation things will change in Southold and that they will grow and learn a lesson. "Apparently, Mr. Helf was well known to and friendly with Mr. Romeo and Mr. Helf attempted to become involved in Lake's investigation but Lake did not permit such involvement," the petition reads. Ex-Scout Leader Charged With Child Porn Pleads Guilty: DOJ, Ex Scout Leader Charged With Child Porn Expected To Plead Guilty: DOJ, LI Dog Lost In Storm Home Safe: 'Words Cannot Express My Gratitude', Spring Jubilee! 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Angel Torres, 54, of Bellport, was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge after a police officer observed him failing to maintain his lane of travel on County Route 48 in Southold Tuesday night, according to a Southold Town Police press [] Members of the board deemed his report insufficient. But at the urging of Mr. Ireland, Mr. Spota wrote letters to the governor last December and again in April asking him to designate the state attorney general or some other official to decide whether an investigation of police misconduct was warranted. Steven Zuhoski, the town allegedly received numerous complaints that the police department was not practicing social distancing. The 2020 Nissan Rogue was then spotted by a patrol officer who attempted to pull the vehicle over. Frederick K. Brewington, a lawyer for Mr. Mims, said the jury finding made it clear that Mr. Mims was abused and that ''such behavior will not be countenanced. Ms. Finnegan said this referred to a police radio recording that showed Officer Zuhoski was struggling and calling for assistance. Shes a Riverhead native and 2015 graduate of Arcadia University. 21, 2023, 6:58 p.m. | Your email address will not be published. To the contrary, the record presented triable issues of fact as to whether Lake's employment was terminated in bad faith for reasons unrelated to his job performance.". The police chief supported the arrestThe police chief further advised Lake that Lake's termination of employment was brought up before the town board and that the police chief did not support the termination," the petition said. In August 2021, a scourge of overdoses traced to fentanyl-laced cocaine led to six deaths in Southold Town and An 83-year-old Southold woman told police April 17 that she received a bill for $499 through her email that A former Suffolk County police sergeant who has given trainings at hundreds of schools, businesses and houses of worship For the third time in four years, North Ferry is seeking a rate increase. Tell us about it! No further action against those employees was taken Tuesday. The town supervisor, Joshua Y. Horton, said Officer Zuhoski would remain as one of the 42-full-time officers on the force. Last month the town released a statement sayingthe conclusions were very troubling., It took longer than any of us wanted, it is a disappointment, Russell said Tuesday. Five police officers in Tennessee have been fired and three others have been suspended following a sex scandal within their department. Gary E. Ireland, another lawyer for Mr. Mims, said the trial outcome proved the need for a special prosecutor to investigate the beating incident and a continuing pattern of abuse and harassment of black residents in Greenport by town police officers. On Friday, White said the woman and a Detroit police officer were engaged in a struggle over a gun inside a home on the 15700 block of Meyers Road on the city's west side when three other officers . Peconic Land Trusts offer to sell 135 acres of future farmland on Oregon Road gets multiple bids, Editorial: Fentanyl-related arrests hark back to local horrors, Southold Blotter: Police investigate two reports of fraud, At mass shooter survival training at Riverhead theater, expert urges Run, hide, defend strategy, North Ferry official makes case for rate hikes: Decision to be made by the County Legislature, Former Southold Town employee pleads guilty to child pornography charges. Incorporating Community Resources for People in Crisis Page 35-37 XIV. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Our Fabulous Variety Show Acting Class for Ages 5-7 at Project Most! "Those complaints were investigated and prompted Chief Flatley to review Lake's department-issued vehicle camera and body microphone audio and video recordings focusing on review of stops, searches, arrests by Lake. Southold Town police chief Martin Flatley, who joined the department as a full-time officer in 1980 before rising through the ranks to run it for more than a decade, has been suspended indefinitely without pay pending a disciplinary hearing, The Suffolk Times has learned. They deserved a professional response from our department, which they did not receive. "We agree with the trial court that Lakes claims are without merit and that Lake failed to raise an issue of fact that required a trial. History [ edit] During the most recent meeting, the town repeatedly refused to name the employee who was suspended. ", Several days later, the petition says that Captain Frank Kruszeski had been contacted by "Joseph Sawicki, the former Republican Suffolk County Comptroller and Suffolk County Assistant Deputy Police Commissioner for Finance, and Mr. Sawicki had made inquiry regarding the propriety of Mr. Romeo's arrest. Furthermore, Flatley testified that Lake did not always deploy his body microphone as required by departmental protocol, thus when civilian complaints were lodged against him for unjustified or overly aggressive use of police action, respondent could not rely on footage to corroborate or refute the lodged complaints.". Russell did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment. During that retirement party in Cutchogue for Sgt. This is the official site of the Town of Southold, NY. Five Southold town employees are under investigation related to a probe into a May 2020 retirement party for a police sergeant, which violated social distancing rules during the pandemic. The town said that it opposed a special prosecutor and that the police had been exonerated in an F.B.I. 3 police officers charged with having sex with same underage girl . Site made in collaboration with CMYK The Southold Town Police Department is responsible for providing law enforcement services for the 60 square miles of land and adjoining coastline within the Town of Southold, consisting of nine hamlets, including Fishers Island and the Village of Greenport. All Rights Reserved. Flatley made a recommendation at executive session before the town board, given his concerns, that the "petitioner not be offered a continued role as a permanent police officer," the decision states. The Southold Town Police Department (STPD), commonly referred to as Southold Police, is the primary law enforcement agency within the town of Southold, New York. Officer Richard Jernick III, who was suspended without pay through Town Board resolution in December, faced possible termination of his employment for alleged various acts of neglect of duty or dereliction in the performance of official duty, acts of disobedience or acts of delinquency that may have seriously affected Officer Jernicks general character and fitness for the job, the settlement agreement states. La Vergne Police Department Officers Larry Holloday, Patrick Magliocco and Gavin Schoeberl have been suspended, they said. Regina Blasko, secretary to Chief Martin Flatley, said the chief declined to comment. Cutchogue residents complained that Southold Police ignored several calls to the department reporting that dozens of people were at a party on May 29, 2020, at a Cutchogue tree farm owned by former police Sgt. Ginas was appointed second in command in January, having previously served as lieutenant. The terms of the agreement include a reprimand letter that will be permanently placed in Flatley's personnel file. In the aftermath of a two-year investigation into the Southold police departments handling of community complaints about a retirement A whale approximately 20 feet long got stuck on a sand bar in Southolds Goose Creek Thursday afternoon. WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) A middle Georgia city has suspended its police department's six-officer narcotics unit after the district attorney began investigating alleged misconduct. Police Officer Staffing/Scheduling Page 30-31 XI. According to the initial complaint, Lake said he believes his termination of employment was "impermissible by New York State law" and was "a result of political pressure and unrelated to job performance." Chief Flatley faced further criticism from the Town Board upon filing his own investigation into the departments response in June 2020. 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Vera Chinese covers Suffolk County government and politics. 158 people in Florida affected by tornadoes surely falls into. Obama & Clinton were a complete failure and are responsible for the four deaths! He says hearings are scheduled to consider disciplinary action against four other town employees still under investigation because of the response to the retirement party, but the town cannot release the larger report into the investigations before the pending hearings. Town Hall 53095 Route 25PO Box 1179 Southold, NY 11971631-765-1800, Town Hall Annex 54375 Route 25Southold, NY 11971. Not a professional way to proceed without any regard for the operation of the police department and excluding me in their decision making process, he wrote in a text message. Officer Zuhoski did not respond to a telephone message left at the police department seeking comment on the jury finding. Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe . Steven Zuhoski and. Three of the employee numbers were found on a town document listing police union dues that name officers John Hinton,Daniel Mackey and Sgt. Inside a centuries-old farmhouse, within a burlap sack, buried six feet under the cellar . Town officials defended themselves against criticism of the slow pace of the probe. He will also be subject to retraining at the discretion of police chief Martin Flatley and also agreed not to bring a lawsuit against the town, police department and other related entities. On May 29, 2020, Cutchogue residents complained that Southold Police ignored several calls to the department reporting that dozens of people were at a party at a Cutchogue tree farm owned by former police Sgt. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell declined to confirm reports that Flatley was the employee that the town suspended on August 9 as the board ramps up its probe of the alleged mishandling of the party, but he did confirm that Ginas is currently serving as police chief. "We respectfully disagree with the appellate division," Duffy said. Our department celebrated three retirements yesterday afternoon with a traditional walkout ceremony at our headquarters, the chief wrote in a May 30, 2020 email following up with the reporter. In December, the Town Board convened for a special meeting, where members voted unanimously to suspend Officer Jernick without pay, pending the results of an investigation. The investigation sent shockwaves through the community, with many concerned about a lack of transparency. The jury, which had no black members, cleared Officer Zuhoski and a second Southold policeman, Sgt. '', Officer in Beating Case Will Remain on Duty, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/nyregion/officer-in-beating-case-will-remain-on-duty.html. We anticipate the proceeding moving forward and having Mr. Lake's meritorious claims of wrongful termination resolved at trial.". Credit: Randee Daddona. They are all entitled to due process.. Since the suspension, Capt. In the unusual finding of culpability against a police officer, the jury awarded Mr. Mims $250,000 for pain and suffering and $10,000 in punitive damages. During Tuesdays meeting, East Marion resident Jordan Silbert pressed the town for an update on the findings and criticized the board for not taking action sooner. SAN ANTONIO Four SAPD officers and one detective served suspensions in July for various violations ranging from ignoring a significant other's drug use to eating at Whataburger instead of. I dont have any direct knowledge of what occurred at other celebrations after ours.. ''Zuhoski is still on the force,'' he said. The Southold Town Board took disciplinary action against five town employees Tuesday in the aftermath of a two-year investigation into the police departments handling of community complaints about a retirement party for one of its sergeants. Regardless of whether or not the trial court erred procedurally, we remain confident that the town will prevail on the merits of the case and Lakes claims will be found to be without merit and his petition will be dismissed. By: News 12 Staff. /. As a full service department we maintain a Detective Division, Marine Division, and Juvenile Aid Bureau as well as a Highway Patrol and K-9 Units. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. How do I get a copy of my incident or motor vehicle accident report? A Suffolk County Police Officer begins the job at a salary of $42,000 per annum. Andrew M. Cuomo banned large gatherings and required social distancing. The Suffolk Times has submitted a freedom of information request to obtain those findings, which have not yet been made public. The relief squad typically rotates through the department to relieve officers who are out, undergoing training or injured, and do not have a specifically assigned schedule or sector. No mention of the incident appeared in the weekly Southold Town police blotter, and Flatley said at the time that I dont have any direct knowledge of what occurred at other celebrations after ours, referring to a traditional walkout ceremony that day at police headquarters for Zuhoski and two other officers leaving the force. Steven Zuhoski. The breakdown in training, communication and failure to follow policy and procedure amongst department members is inexcusable and understandably has eroded the public's trust in their police department.". special town board meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. reported in August that the Town Board took disciplinary action, Southold officials look to boost cell phone coverage through new technology, Editorial: As news stories go, this one was very big, Boat explodes at dock in Greenport, injuring two, Breakdown of vaccination rates by zip codes shows Southold Town ahead of average, FBI Agents Seemingly Surveilled Traditional Catholic Church, Sources Say, Hicks Nurseries And The Rise (And Fall) Of The Gold Coast Estates, Welcome The Newest WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee: Andy Kaufman, Kyle Rittenhouse Launches Video Game to Aid in His Fight Against Fake News Outlets, Group Calls Out Investment Giant Morningstar for Reputed Anti-Israel Bias, After Trump Gave Medal of Freedom to American Heroes, Biden Just Gave One to Anthem-Hating Megan Rapinoe, Soros-backed DA works to keep gang members accused of killing toddler out of jail, DeSantis Wins Again Out of Over 1M New Voters, Less Than 18K Registered as Democrat, Ameson Education and Cultural Exchange Foundation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and explosives, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, Chairman of the house intelligence committee, Children's Internet Privacy Protection Act, Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Energy and the Defense Facilities Safety Board, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Federal Correctional Complex Petersburg's Satellite Camp, Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, First Haitian Baptist Church of Pompano Beach, Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council, Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, French Institute of Health and Medical Research, Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins, https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1529430413655134208. The petition also stated that after applying to be rehired by the Southampton Town Police Department, Lake could not be offered a position because Southold Town did not "offer a reason for his termination of employment" and it would need to be investigated. ". ''I have been pleased with the police department's professionalism in dealing with the community, and we always strive to reach a higher standard,'' he said. investigation of the Mims case. Steven Witzke, according to a town document detailing who pays Southold Town police union dues. The Southold Town Board announced it reached a settlement with the police chief in order for him to be reinstated. Because the appellate division decision is not a final order and only remands the matter back to the trial court, we cannot appeal the decision as of right. Mr. Cowell refused to stop and continued west on Route 48 in Southold. Oct 24, 2022, 7:31pmUpdated on Oct 24, 2022. ''I don't want anybody to know where I am,'' he said. April 24, 2023 at 5:22 p.m. Chief Flatley received criticism for how the department handled those complaints and the town hired an independent investigator to look into their response. Five Southold Town employees face disciplinary charges, including one who has been suspended without pay, in connection witha May 2020 party for an officer who was retiring from the police department. Southold; The county has a total population of 1,493,350 people, . The resolutions approved Tuesday do not say what disciplinary charges the five employees face. However, Lake, the petition alleges, believes he was fired "in retaliation for his refusal to give special or preferential treatment to two influential members of the community; a chief of a nearby fire department, and an individual with a close relationship to a local political party." The footage. Police Chief Carlisle Cochran referred questions to Ms. Finnegan, who confirmed that Officer Zuhoski remained on active duty and was ''fully performing all of his assigned duties.''. ''They need to spring into action, and they need to get serious about this quickly,'' he said. The resident, meanwhile, has left town, saying he feared for his life. Flatley told News 12 he is just anxious to get back to serving the community. He later served as a detective, a sergeant of the detective division and captain before being appointed chief by Mr. Russell and the Town Board in June 2011. It happened at a time when gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited due to COVID-19. The party was held at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when social gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited. Policing and Youth, Prevention, Parent Support and School Resource Officers Page 38-39 The chief faced criticism soon after the May 29, 2020, retirement party for Sgt. Following the announcement by the town board, Flatley read his own statement, saying in part, "I apologize to all the residents of the town and in particular to the residents who called 911 or the police department to register a complain regarding activities associated with the retirement party. The other two numbers do not appear on the list, indicating they are not police union members. Lake, who was fired on May 19, 2016, four days before the end of his probationary period, is represented by attorney Eric Bressler of Mattituck's Wickham, Bressler and Geasa, PC; his petition was initially denied in 2017 by the New York State Supreme Court. ''It's high time for Southold to hire some black police officers. The 42-year-old Merseyside Police officer is suspended from duty while allegations are investigated. Flatley and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell were advised not to comment on ongoing litigation, Duffy said. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell declined to confirm reports that Flatley was the employee that the town suspended on August 9 as the board ramps up its probe of the alleged mishandling of the party, but he did confirm that Ginas is currently serving as police chief. ", Based upon review of this footage, the court's initial decision read, "Flatley identified a concern regarding unjustified and questionable use of police action by Lake so far as the probable cause or justification for stops and searches which was not always objectively evident. Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley was suspended and Capt. . Russell tells News 12 Flatley will be restored to duty once all the terms of the agreement are met. A serving police officer has been arrested on suspicion of coercive and controlling behaviour. Upon information and belief, Mr. Sawicki also contacted the town board.". Sgt. Two additional officers and a civilian are still subject to discipline over the incident. 2022 Times Review Media Group. Our Fabulous Variety Show Open Level Hip Hop for ages 10+ at Project Most! James Ginas is now the acting chief, a source confirmed. According to testimony in the civil trial, which ended in Federal District Court in Central Islip on April 30, Officer Steven Zuhoski beat the plaintiff, John Mims of Greenport, severely enough to knock him unconscious for more than two hours, requiring stitches and staples to close wounds to his head. Officer Jernick admitted to the allegations as part of the agreement signed Jan. 5 and has been returned to the force as a member of the relief squad required to work 260 days per calendar year through 2025, according to the settlement.
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southold police officer suspended