Crazy season has begun as campaigns gear up for primary election in September and the November general election.

In Spring Valley, mayoral candidate Bernard Charles Jr. screamed foul with he said 80 of his campaign signs were removed from the streets.

Charles claimed Mayor George Darden, who is not seeking re-election, order the DPW to cherry-pick his signs, while leaving those for five others untouched. He said he confronted Darden on Thursday and  gave a vocal complaint to Officer Jorge Marciano on Friday.

“Darden told me he didn’t know what happened and didn’t know where my signs were,” Charles said. “He told me my signs were not put down legally. There was no real explaination why.”

Darden responded today that Charles paid his $100 sign permit fee late Wednesday afternoon and the deputy clerk didn’t add his name to the list until the next day.

The early list of permit-holders used by the DPW didn’t contain his name on Thursday morning and crews removed his signs.

Darden said an honest mistake was made and Charles was not singled out.

“He slipped through the cracks,” Darden said. “He came in here yelling and screaming. There was no way to reason with him. So I just told him I didn’t know. I looked into it later. This was nobody’s fault.”

Darden said the village regulations on signs are there to keep the streets clean and campaign signs off village property. He noted he helped another candidate get her signs off village property.

Most first-time candidate – like Charles – get angry when their signs are taken, Darden said, noting Deputy Mayor Norami Jasmin already has had close to 150 signs pilfered.

Darden said he will make all candidates live to the letter of the law when it comes to campaign signs.

Above, Bernard Charles with some of his campaign signs returned to him by the Spring Valley DPW.

Law enforcement in Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess and Sullivan counties depend on the laboratory for analysis on evidence for criminal cases and prosecutions. The lab has serviced the lower Hudson Valley for 31 years. Nearly 15 tro 20 years ago efforts by some to build a Rockland County forensic lab never got off the ground.

The Newburgh-based lab’s closure puts more work on the state police lab in Albany and would add another 90 minutes of travel if officers have to drive to the Albany to pick up or deliver evidence, instead of Newburgh, contend the trio of legislators – Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, and Assembly members Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, and Kenneth P. Zebrowski, D-New City.

They also emphasize how much work the crime lab does for the region and Rockland law enforcement. In 2008, the laboratory handled analysis for 2,414 drug cases and 765 toxicology cases.

...Thomas Morahan          Ellen Jaffee             Ken Zebrowski

Below is a copy of the letter from the three lawmakers to Paterson, released to the public this week:

August 25, 2009
Governor David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

State Legislators Protest Newburgh Lab Closure

Dear Governor Paterson,
We write today to ask you to reconsider the closure of the State Police Lab located in Newburgh, New York. While we recognize the financial situation the State is facing, closing this lab will, in the long-term, adversely affect residents of Rockland County and the Hudson Valley and greatly impair our county’s law enforcement agencies’ ability to protect those who live and work in Rockland County.
A study completed in 1972 found that more than one-third of drug evidence submissions to the New York State Police Laboratory System originated from the Mid-Hudson region. In response to the this demonstrated need, the Mid-Hudson Regional Crime Laboratory opened in 1978, and has, for the last 31 years, served law enforcement agencies in Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Westchester, Sullivan, and Putnam Counties, as well as New York State Parole and Corrections, and various federal government agencies.
The regional need for this laboratory has not diminished since its inception. In fact, we can expect the need to continue to rise due to increased arrests and prosecution for drug and alcohol related-incidents, most of which require the expertise of the Mid-Hudson Regional Crime Laboratory. In 2008, this translated to 2,414 drug cases and 765 toxicology cases.
In addition, further taxing police departments’ already stretched resources by forcing officers to travel to Albany, an additional 90 minutes each way from Rockland County, will take officers out of the communities where they do the most good and have them traveling on the New York State Thruway for nearly an entire shift. This will inevitably impact scheduling for police departments and result in additional overtime pay – a burden to the taxpayers.

Baile Glauber told The Journal News minutes after graduating from the Rockland Police Academy in June 2008 that she was “excited” about starting her career as a Ramapo police officer.

Glauber (pictured right) declined at the time to discuss her life even though she became a feel-good story because she grew up in the Satmar Hasidic Jewish community, where women are specifically sheltered from influence outside the community.

Times have changed since graduation.

Glauber, 31, a divorce mother with a son, has filed a discrimination complaint against the Ramapo Police Department and town, contending she has been mistreated because of her religious beliefs since her opening interview for the nomination in February 2008, before the Police Academy training.

Ramapo strongly disputes her allegations and will file a response by Sept. 3 with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Town Attorney Michael Klein told me today.

Her EEOC complaint is the mandated percursor to a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Klein said he hopes Glauber can settle her issues out of court with the town. But he said Ramapo isn’t backing down that the department followed the laws and accommodated her religious beliefs, including Sabbath days off and an opportunity to get Jewish holidays off.

Glauber  contends her religious beliefs were the focus of discussions since she interviewed with police brass for a job in January 2008. She included Chief Peter Brower.
“I was interviewed for approximately one and one-half hours, during which time I was repeatedly questioned about little else other than how my religious background and my religious observance would affect my ability to perform my job as a police officer,” Glauber wrote in the complaint.

She said officers shunned her,  as part of a campaign of harassment and discrimination. One officer, she wrote, told her she’ll never be part of the police family. Another officer, she said, wished her good luck but didn’t think she could cut it as a cop.  She contends her colleagues didn’t think she could handle being an officer because of her cluster raising as a Satmar Hasidic Jew, and her lack of life experience outside the religious community.

Glauber has not done much police work as she has yet to complete her field training to ride solo as an officer and her probation – and future as an officer – comes up for review in February.

She injured her ankle in the Police Academy, took time off from the physical training and came back to pass the physical regiment.

She’s been on desk duty for months with an ankle and non-work-related injury, while she has seen doctors.

The Rockland County Probation Department is taking part in New York State’s Probation, Parole & Community Supervision Week from July 19 to 25, according to a news release from the Rockland County Executive’s Office.

The objective is to recognize the work that probation, parole and community supervision professionals do for public safety and to make our communities a safer place to live.

In that regard, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef issued a Proclamation designating the week from July 19th-25th Probation, Parole & Community Supervision Week in Rockland County.

“We thank the staff in the Probation Department for their continuous hard work and vigilance in making our community a safer place to live,” Vanderhoef said in the news release.  ”We also recognize other community corrections professionals here in Rockland and throughout the region for their efforts.”

The Probation Department, under the direction of Director Jacqueline Stormes, also will have an employee recognition day, as well as other events throughout the week, to show appreciation for staff members.

Rockland Sheriff’s Department Senior Deputy Dennis J. Salemo just completed a training program on working civil cases, such as process serving, and enforcement of judgments, and other court orders like evictins, and mandate.

Salemo accepts certification of achievement from Chris O’Brien, executive director of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc.

The importance of the training is to ensure that records are exact and kept Sheriff’s Department civil unitskeep reocrds on judgments for court caes, fees collected and disbursements of judgements to creditors. These records also could be subjected to Comptroller’s Office audit and court overights.

Salemo, who works for Civil Unit Chief Mary Barbera, attended the 11th annual conference for civil unit personnel.

EndFragment->

The fund-raiser will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County.

Tickets are priced at $30 before the fund-raiser and $40 at the door.

The event will include hors d’oeuvres, beverages and latin music all night.

Formed in 1996, the Rockland Police Hispanic Society’s goals include assist police departments in diversifying their forces by considering Hispanic candidates for positions within their ranks and to raise money for educational, social programs and college scholarships.

For more information, call 845-426-0797 or 845-638-5183 or visit www.rcphs.com ]]> http://insiderockland.lohudblogs.com/2009/06/17/rockland-hispanic-police-society-holding-fund-raising-dance/feed/ 0 http://insiderockland.lohudblogs.com/2009/05/15/clarkstowns-baumann-marks-42nd-year/ http://insiderockland.lohudblogs.com/2009/05/15/clarkstowns-baumann-marks-42nd-year/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 19:27:50 +0000 Steve Lieberman http://insiderockland.lohudblogs.com/?p=1313 Clarkstown Administrative Sgt. Harry Baumann today marked his 42nd year in law enforcement – including two years with the United Nations security force.

His longevity day didn’t turn into a party – no donuts or coffee from his colleague. He said he spent the day training and taking telephone calls from the media. Part of his duties include being the public information officer.

He also was preparing for Sunday’s awards ceremony at 9 a.m. at police headquarters, when officers are honored during Police Memorial Week for their service.

He said some of his colleagues offered to take him out for a drink after work.

“I had to decline,” he said. “I have a dinner engagement.”

Baumann has spent 37 years with the Clarkstown Police Department, after three years with the New York City Police Department and two years with the United Nations. He also served with the military police.

The Orange County lawyer, an appointed state Court of Claims judge, remains assigned to Rockland County Courthouse, but has taken time off for a medical procedure, said Judge Francis Nicolai, the administrative law judge for the 9th Judicial District, which includes Rockland.

Nicolai said he expects Bartlett back behind the bench in a few weeks, possibly sooner than her blank calendar of cases on the court wwebsite indicated.

Nicolai assigned Bartlett  to handle criminal cases in Rockland. An appointee by former GOP Gov. George Pataki to a 10-year-term whose husband is the Orange County GOP chairman, Bartlett also has been designated an acting state Supreme Court judge. She’s a former county attorney and Goshen judge.

“I know she was planning on being out for a minor medical procedure,” Nicolai told The Journal-News today. “I am sure she will be back sooner than expected.”

The ceremony coincided with County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef proclaiming May 17 to May 23 as EMS Week.  Criteria and eligibility for each award were set by the New York State Department of Health.

Vanderhoef’s office announced the following people were presented with awards:

• Registered Professional Nurse of Excellence: Kathy Albin.

• Basic Life Support Provider of the Year: Vincent Tuzzolino – Tuzzolino provides outstanding patient care and is always an advocate for his patients and partners.

• Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year: Nancy Berquist – A paramedic since the  early 1980’s, Berquist began her career with Nyack Hospital Paramedic Program and later became one of the fist paramedics at Rockland Paramedic Services.

• Youth Member of the Year: Erich Rechenberger – He has volunteered  numerous hours to the Nanuet Ambulance Corps and was elected as captain of the organization’s youth corps. He assists in scheduling and coordinating with all youth advisors for training sessions and meetings.

• EMS Agency of the Year: The Congers-Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

• EMS Leadership Award: Paul Morer –  Morer had drive cams installed in Nyack’s fleet of vehicles, improving driver safety and responsibility. He’s a capitain.

• EMS Educator of Excellence: Maureen McCahery.

Each  EMS Agency recognized its own outstanding member.  This year’s recipients are:
•    Antonio “Tony” Failla, Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps
•    Hillel Kornbluh, Chevra Hatzolah EMS
•    Walter Emery, Haverstraw Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Karen Burke, Nanuet Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Clifford Goodman, New City Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Association
•    William McDowell, Nyack Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Robert Rahnefeld, Pearl River Alumni Ambulance
•    Millicent King, Piermont Fire Dept. EMS
•    Lewis T. Lodini, Ramapo Valley Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Christina Craig, Rockland Mobile Care
•    Richard Greer, Rockland Paramedic Services, Inc.
•    Mike Conklin, South Orangetown Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Matthew Kerewski, Spring Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Nicole O’Leary, Stony Point Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Lesley DeVore, Tuxedo Volunteer Ambulance Corps
•    Paul Smith, William P. Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps

For more information about volunteering, call the Rockland EMS Office at 845-364-8923.

Yankee Stadium in the Bronx is more than just the new home of 26 World Series championships.

The newly built stadium on 161st Street also “is a model of accessibility to people with disabilities.”

So says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District in Manhattan. The district includes Rockland and Westchester, as well as the Bronx.

Tomorrow, the Yankee brass and U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin  (no word whether he’s a Yankee fan, by the way) will hold a news conference at the stadium to announce that the office has completed its review of the ball park. 

Providing proper accessibility for people with disabilities resulted from cooperation between the Yankees, the Department of Justice, and private groups during the stadium’s design and construction.

The Yankees voluntarily sought input from the Justice Department to ensure that the stadium would be accessible to people with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said today in a news release.

The act is meant to guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunities, including the opportunity to enjoy a sporting event as others do.

Following the news conference at 11 a.m. today, there will be a tour of some of the new Stadium’s accessible features will follow the press conference 11 a.m.

The Yanks open the season at the stadium on Thursday, though the team played the Cubs at the new ballpark to cap off spring training.

The yellow Lab, known to get excited over the scent of gasoline and other accelerants, has been out on injury leave with a bad foot.

The action pooch had surgery on Jan. 29 at the Suffern Animal Hospital. She’s expected to be off-duty until the end of the month, Detective Lt. William Barbera said.

“She came back and had a cone on her head,” Barbera said, adding the device was meant to prevent Scooter from licking or biting the stitches on her back leg.

Her stitches came out today, he said.

While she’s convalescing, Lerner has been working.

He’s investigating the massive fire that destroyed a Washington Avenue warehouse in Suffern last week – a fire seen for miles. And the warehouse had loads of flammable stuff – from propane tanks to gasoline, all the stuff that puts the bark in an arson dog like Scooter.

Lerner and Scooter have been a team since 2006.

Scooter was found in a Chicago animal shelter after she was abandoned on the streets. The person who rescued the pup and named her Scooter took her to Maine for possible training as an arson dog.

Scooter succeeded Hayley, a black Labrador retriever who became the county’s first arson dog in 2001. Hayley retired with her handler, Detective Joseph Guidice.

While Scooter is a “sworn” law enforcement pooch, she’s not eligible for 2007c – the state program that pays police officer their salary tax free while they are recovering from an on-the-job injury.

The Turnkeys of Rockland LEMC held a benefit Thursday at  Noel’s, Route 9W, Stony Point. They raised money to help Lupo buy new exercise equipment for his home to help him continue with his physical therapy, acupuncture, pool therapy,  and other needs, member Darlene Babcock said.

The group’s 50/50 raffle raised $6,800 – of which $3,400.00 went to Lupo, Babcock said. The door prize raffle raised $1,600 and the 50/50 winner, Tommy K. Larkin, donated $500.00 from his winnings to Lupo.

The officers of The Turnkeys are: Clint Halstead, president; George Barbera Jr., vice president; Gordon Heller, secretary; Paul Orbacz, treasurer; and Al Fagan, sergeant at arms. Other members include Darlene Babcock, Paul Allison, Dan Dworkin, Erica Marino, Freddy Perez, and John Cocuzza.

Matt Lupo, a 1998 North Rockland High School graduate, broke a vertebra in his spine and suffered a bruised spinal cord after hitting his head on the bottom of a swimming pool at a friend’s home in New Jersey. The injury left him paralyzed from the waist down and with limited movement in his arms and hands.

Lupo and his family has been supported by the community since he was injured. Back in 2003,  his friends held a fund-raiser at Don’s Neighborhood Grill in Stony Point to help pay for the modifications to their 1959 Cape Cod home. The Lupos raised their four sons in he house.

That doesn’t mean the neighborhood tavern can’t attract a little celebrity.

In this case, the celebrity was singer-actress Hayden Panettiere, who grew up in the Orangetown community of Palisades and was visiting from the West Coast during the Christmas holidays. The actress, who began appearing in commercials at 11 months and has been acting since she was 5, now has a role in the NBC television series, “Heroes.”

Panettiere ended up visiting the NV bar on Dec. 23 to see a member of the Joe Turco band and calling the Suffern police when a bouncer took her identification. She’s 19 and cannot legally drink in New York.

She told them she wanted to discuss music collaborations with the band member. She went in the side door, because she told police she didn’t want to cause a stir or be mobbed at the front door.

Anyway, the bouncer found her and proofed her.  He gave her the boot for being underage, but kept her driver’s license/identification card, police said. He shouldn’t have kept her ID card and she was correct to ask for it back, Suffern Detective Craig Long said.

To get her ID back, Panettiere called 911 – her call going to the Mahwah police, who sent it to Suffern. Police went to the nightclub.

“She had a valid driver’s license,” Long said. “He takes it and doesn’t give it back. He says it’s fraudulent. She’s  going back to California and rightfully so wants her identification back.”

Long said he never heard of Panettiere, but the only television he watches is the History channel. (He is the town and village historian)

“The only Hayden I know is the Planetarium (in New York City),” Long joked. “From what the officer said you would never know she was a celebrity. She acted like a regular person and was very nice and polite.

Panettiere also has involved with Kohl’s Cares for Kids and the department store chain “Candie’s” spokeswoman.

One officer on the scene, Lou Venturini, the K-9 officer whose police partner is named Hero.

Panettiere’s Suffern adventure was important enough to be picked up by the celebrity-gossip magazines and Websites like TMZ ( www.tmz.com/2009/01/13/hayden-underage-hero/ )which has documented events in her life, from boyfriends and family controversies  to buying a house in California.

For more information on Panettiere, one can google her name.

The Turnkeys of Rockland LEMC, a newly established motorcycle group consisting of correction officers, is sponsoring the benefit from 6 to 9 p.m. at Noel’s, Route 9W, Stony Point.

Lupo needs new exercise equipment for his home to help him continue with his physical therapy, acupuncture, pool therapy,  and other needs, member Darlene Babcock wrote.

There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and a DJ to help raise these funds for him.  The drawings will begin at 8 p.m.

The officers of The Turnkeys are: Clint Halstead, president; George Barbera Jr., vice president; Gordon Heller, secretary; Paul Orbacz, treasurer; and Al Fagan, sergeant at arms. Other members include Darlene Babcock, Paul Allison, Dan Dworkin, Erica Marino, Freddy Perez, and John Cocuzza.

Horace Shackleford, now 27, will remain in Oneida Correctional Facility until December 2011 at the earliest.

The Appellate Division ruled acting State Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bartlett had wide discretion to determine the testimony of the Spring Valley police officers Frances Brooke and Joseph Brown was credibility, along with other evidence, to convict Shackleford of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Bartlett has not always looked favorably at Spring Valley police investigations in other cases, including those involving drug arrests and investigation into possible corruption.

“Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the record in this case amply supports the hearing court’s determination to credit police testimony, as well as the court’s factual findings that the vehicle in which the defendant was riding as a passenger was lawfully stopped for a traffic infraction,” the panel wrote in a decision released Dec. 3.

Following the car stop,  Brown ended up patting down Shackleford and finding a bag inside his jacket. Brown felt the bag contained a heavy metal object. The officer  testified that the object in the bag did not feel like a gun, “but you can’t determine what it feels like.”

The panel ruled the officers took reasonable action to remove Shackleford from the car and pat him down based on his hand movements and refusal to follow police directions.

The panel also ruled that since  Brown could not rule out the possibility that the object was a weapon, he was justified in seizing the bag.

Brown and Brooke subsequently inspected the contents of the bag and found a metal scale and a large white rock substance that appeared to be crack cocaine. The officers’ search of the bag within the defendant’s grabbable reach was a proper safety precaution under the circumstances, the panel ruled.

Shackleford previously served 1 to 3 years in prison for a drug possession conviction in Ulster County, being released in 2005.

The fired officer, Andrew Dale of Suffern, and Zalman Silber are accused of administering gynecological exams to SIlber’s wife from 2005 to 2006. Bartlett yesterday let stand eight felony charges – four counts each of unauthorized practice of a profession and aggravated sexual abuse.

Ramapo fired Dale in August following a disciplinary hearing.

Bartlett has been a thorne in the side of prosecutors in several cases since being assigned to Rockland several years ago. She’s a political appointee to the Court of Claims by then Gov. George Pataki.

She recently dismissed charges during trial against a suspended Spring Valley police officer. District Attorney Thomas Zugibe disagreed with her rulings during the trial on evidence and what testimony was allowed. She also came down heard on the Spring Valley police investigation.

A jury acquitted the officer, David Lebron, of all remaining criminal charges.

Former prosecutor Michael Bongiorno also had disagreements with Bartlett, one time filing a court action on her decision on what documents the prosecution needed to turn over to the defense. The legal action was withdrawn following negotiations.

Read more about the judge’s decision at www.lohud.com today and tomorrow.

Kryger,  the department’s youth officer, was promoted to detective at the Dec. 8  meeting of the Haverstraw Town Board. A 10-year veteran, Kryger has been running the youth division for the last year and works with Stony Point police on the North Rockland Youth Academy.

He is a former 5-year NYPD member and former chief of the West Haverstraw FD.  His brother is a Stony Point police and his father is a retired New York City firefighter and reporter for the Journal-News.

The Clarkstown Police Department canine  has received a body armor vest from the United States Police Canine Association for Region 7.

The $900-valued vest was presented last week to the German shepherd and his handler, Police Officer Joseph Knarich during the association’s meeting in Yonkers. The group’s president, MTA Lt. John Kurwick, did the honors.

The association gets the vests through donations

Kanarich and Oz became partners during 2007 – including 13 weeks of training at the Boston Police Department K-9 Academy.

The 2 1/2-year-old tracking dog also is trained in narcotics detection.The dog found a man with Alzheimer’s who had become lost for four hours in 2007.

The association’s website is www.uspca7.org.

Legislator Ed Day, R-New City, who represents the areas, today issued a news release.

“This pointless act of vandalism was obviously committed by cowards in the cloak of night,” Day said. “This hurtful act contradicts the spirit and cohesive atmosphere of our community.  It reflects ignorance and immaturity on the part of the perpetrators.”

Day has requested the support of his legislative colleagues to formally condemn this act of vandalism.

“It was just two weeks ago where I and a number of fellow elected officials joined our neighbors on the Rockland County Courthouse steps to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the “night of broken glass.” I said then it is the people’s rightful expectations that elected officials immediately and vociferously decry incidents of hate so as to ensure that the seeds of oppression never have the opportunity to again take root as it did in pre-war Germany.”

###

Rockland Sheriff’s Detective Shlomo Koenig recently got kudos from the U.S. Secret Service for helping investigated people dealing in child pornography on the Internet.

Koenig, a member of the Rockland Sheriff’s Department Computer Crime Task Force, has been named “2008 Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” by the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.

He was co-recipient with two special agents who worked with him on investigating a man who was trading child pornography on-line.

The man was from Flint, Mich., and Koenig used the man’s screen name to develop additional leads and information on a prolific child pornographer in Florida, according to a letter of commendation from John Lange, a deputy special agent for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Koenig also is assigned to the New York Field Office of Electronics Crime Task Force, which also presented him with a plaque of appreciation for his investigative work on pedophiles and child pornographers.

Sheriff James Kralik was giddy with pride over the honors bestowed on Koenig, who joined the department in 1996 as the nation’s first Hasidic Jewish police officer. He remains a Kaser village trustee and deputy mayor of the Ramapo village.

Kralik said Koenig has attained national and potentially an international reputation for his work on the Internet involving people who prey on children.

Estimating Koenig has participated in 160 convictions, Kralik called Koenig a “world-class officer who has reached the top of his profession.”

“I am extremely proud of Sholom,” Kralik said. “He has become not only a national figure in computer crime case, especially in child porn and pedophila, he’s become international,” Kralik said. “His assistance has been requested by the Israel National Police on computer crimes.”

In above photo, Koenig holds certificate given to him by Secret Service, represented by agent Rafael Praigo of White Plains. They are standing with Kralik

Bartlett, an appointed Court of Claims jurist from Orange County, has been vocal during this  case in the Rockland County Courthouse in New City.

With the jury out of the courtroom today, Bartlett gave the defense some help.

Bartlett offered suggestions on a plea deal prosecution witness Joseph Houston got in 2007 for his cooperation. She did so after speaking with prosecutor Gary Lee Heavner and Lebron’s lawyer Richard Murray, who raised the issue. 

When Heavner told her there was no written plea agreement, Bartlett suggested Murray give her a subpoena to sign that would compel the testimony from the former prosecutor, Louis Valvo.

Then, Barlett used her judicial authority to question Houston about the plea deal that led to him receiving a lesser charge of possessing stolen jewelry in burglary case - a sentence she approved. Houston told her he believed he got a reduced charge for his cooperation.

When the jury returned, Murray then questioned Houston about the deal, rightfully leaving it up to the jury to determine the overall credibility of Houston’s testimony.

Murray also questioned Houston about his criminal record and his background for most of yesterday – something a prosecutor likes to do in an effort to show the jury that nothing is being hid.

As Heavner pointed out to Barlett, he was leading up to raising Houston’s conviction and arrest record, when Bartlett told him to skip the background questions and get to the core of Houston’s testimony, which was Lebron was his friend and tipped him off to prostitution stings and bar raids.

Bartlett also jumped ahead of the lawyers by questioning Houston about other evidence and publicizing an internal Spring Valley police department memo discussing unsubstantiated allegations that other officers tipped off bars and committed crimes.

Heavner argued the memo had nothing to do with the Lebron case and all allegations were being investigated.

At one point, Bartlett theorized why Houston said he was arrested more times than his computer record showed. She said if police don’t fingerprint a person after their arrests, sometimes it doesn’t appear on the person’s record. Murray also joined the judge by questioning the integrity of the police investigation, asking for a copy of Houston’s rap sheet.

Bartlett also said Houston violated her order not talk to the police or anyone. She implied a Spring Valley police detective tutored Houston on factual dates for his testimony.

Houston maintained he spoke with the officer about non-trial issues.

Heavner defended Houston, telling Bartlett that Houston’s testimony has been consistent and has not changed one iota. He also told her that it was difficult for Houston not to talk to the officers since they were in charge of driving him to his hotel room and getting him his meals.

Bartlett countered that Houston’s testimony on dates became more precise yesterday, compared to Thursday.

Houston continues testifying to questions from Murray on Wednesday, when the trial is scheduled to resume.

Well, how about running or jogging or maybe walking fast for  five miles during the Rockland Road Runners 17th annual Active International Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Nov. 27, starting at 8:30 a.m. in Rockland Lake State Park’s north parking lot number 1.

Sponors dub the Turkey Trot the largest single road race in Rockland County and is fast approaching 2,000 participants. Proceeds benefit the Active International Cardiovascular Institute at Good Samaritan Hospital and other local charitable organizations,  including People to People and the Rockland County Police Hispanic Society Scholarship Fund.

To register for the race, go to www.rocklandroadrunners.org/turkeytrot

For those who shy away from anything computer,  pre-race registration and packets can be picked up on Tuesday, Nov 25, and Wednesday, Nov 26, at the Palisades Center in West Nyack by going to The Sports Authority (2nd floor) between 12 to 8 p.m.  Pre-register and get a free long-sleeved shirt.

People also  can register on race day between 6:45 and 8 a.m. (but no free shirts)

Fees for running: Before Nov 21, the cost is $18 ($15 for Rockland Roard Runners)  The fee is $20 on race day. And those age 65 and older can pay $10 by pre-registering.

People also are asked to contribute to the People to People food drive.

For more information, call 845-692-8141 or e-mail turkeytrotdirector@rocklandroadrunners.org. For more info about the Active International Cardiovascular Institute visit www.goodsamhosp.org.

The office can be reached at 212-637-0840. In addition, complaints of possible violations of federal election laws may be made directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (212) 384-1000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office issued the following statement:

The U.S. Attorney’s Office  stated that the enforcement of federal laws protecting the rights of all eligible persons to vote for the candidates of their choice is a high priority of the Department of Justice.

It is unlawful under federal law to deny or abridge  anyone’s right to vote because of race, color or national origin.  Federal laws also require local election authorities to make voting accessible to disabled and elderly voters.  Voters who require assistance because of blindness, disability or inability to read and write have the right to receive such assistance from a person of their own choosing.

In counties with substantial numbers of non-English speaking voters, federal laws prohibit the denial or abridgement of a voter’s ability to participate in the election process in certain languages other than English (i.e., Spanish, Chinese, Korean).

In addition, certain activities designed to subvert the integrity of the election process are federal crimes.  It is a federal crime, for example, to deprive citizens of their right to  fair elections or to conspire to do so.  Specific election laws also make it a crime to bribe or intimidate voters, to cause  ballots to be cast fraudulently in the names of individuals who  did not vote (“ballot stuffing”), to vote more than once, or to alter or falsely report the vote count.  It can also be a federal offense to challenge qualified voters without cause and in bad faith or to harass persons seeking to vote for the purpose of discouraging their vote.
The spokesperson said that the ability of federal law enforcement authorities to detect and eliminate improper restrictions on voting rights and to prosecute election fraud depends to a large extent on the watchfulness and cooperation of the voters.

It is therefore imperative that those who have been asked to participate in illegal election practices, who have been the subject of such practices, who have observed such practices,
or who have information bearing on such practices, make that information known promptly to the FBI or the United States Attorneys at the telephone numbers listed above.

The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Manhattan and Brooklyn also noted that the following additional telephone numbers are available on election day for citizens to call for routine inquiries, such as where to vote or how late the polls are open, or to register complaints that may concern violations of New York State election laws:

In counties outside New York City, the countyt board of elections:

Dutchess: 845-486-2473

Nassau : 516-571-2411
Orange : 845-291-2444
Putnam: 845-278-6970
Rockland: 845-638-5172
Suffolk: 631-852-4500
Sullivan: 845- 794-3000
Westchester: 914-995-5700

The panels for the Rockland Bar Association and Rockland Women’s Bar Association reviewed the credential of several candidates. Both panel released their reviews today.

The Rockland Bar Association’s Judiciary Review and Screening Committee found the following candidates qualified:

• Daniel Weisberg and  Rolf Thorsen, both running for Clarkstown justice. Weissberg, a Clarkstown police lieutenant, is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Thorsen,  the law secretary to Family Court Justice William Warren, is running on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence lines. Weisberg and Thorsen are seeking to succeed Justice Joel Flick, who recently died.

•  Justice Kevin Russo  for West Haverstraw Justice Court.  He’s running unopposed on the Democratic Party Line.

• Family Court Judge William Warren, who is running unopposed on the Democratic, Working Families, Independence and Conservative lines.

• Haverstraw Town Justice John Grant did not appear before the  panel. He is running unopposed.

The  Rockland County Women’s Bar Association’s Judicial Screening Committee found the following judicial candidates qualified: Thorsen, Weisberg and Kevin Russo. The  appearances of Warren and Surrogate Judge Thomas Walsh were waived by the candidates. Walsh,  a judge for three decades, also is running unopposed.

Logan is charged with a misdemeanor count of third-degree menacing and violation of harassment – accusations being made by her boss, Section 8 Administrator Monique Anderson. Anderson has  accused Logan of threatening her and used profanity. Logan denied threatening her, though she said two had argued.

The personality clash comes as the Section 8 office is the target of a criminal investigation by the Rockland District Attorney’s Office. The office and the village, including Mayor George Darden, were  the target of a highly critical audit report by the Housing and Urban Development Department, which oversees the federal rent-subsidy program.

In the criminal case, Assistant District Attorney Eric Holzer today asked Simon to step aside and allow the Logan’s prosecution to take place in another jurisdiction.

Holzer argued that Simon knows both Logan and Anderson, as well as other village officials, and that gives off an appearance of a conflict of interest, if not a bias. Logan was hired by Darden. Simon’s colleagues, justices Susan Smith and Christine Theodore, are prepared to opt out of the case and will sign the recusal documents, Holzer told Simon.

Simon demurred at stepping aside.  He said Theodore and Smith can do what’s convenient for them, but his standards are a bit different.  Simon said recusing himself would be the easy way out and he wasn’t elected to take the easy road.

He waxed poetically for several minutes about the role of the court, public service,  and adults working together for the common good.

He contended he would not favor either side, seemingly hurt by the suggestion, and that to step aside would be a dereliction of his duty as a judge. Simon maintained that knowing Logan and Anderson was no different from knowing the police officers who bring charges in court or anyone else who appears before him. He also noted he went door-to-door campaigning, shaking hands of residents, some of whom  may appear before him.

Simon, 65, a former Ramapo town attorney,  public defender,  and criminal defense lawyer, noted he has practice law for 30 years. living and working in  Spring Valley. His clients covered generations in some families and some have appeared before him .

Simon  told Holzer he had anticipated his recusal request after reading District Attorney Thomas Zugibe’s comments in The Journal News about the judge and the case.

“I  don’t see me as having any bias,” Simon said. “I tend to think, and I may be wrong, I may have a unique ability to hear this case. After the reading the complaint, I have no preconceived notions except to be embarrassed for the village that two co-workers are involved.”

Simon also suggested that possibly Anderson and Logan should sit down with the Volunteer Counseling Service to resolve their problems outside the courtroom.

Simon also denied Holzer’s request for a order of protection on Anderson’s behalf against Logan. He said he told the two to act civil toward one another and has not been told there have been any flareups. Holzer said Simon’s refuse to issue an order of protection could be construed as a bias in the case.

Logan’s lawyer, Brian Berkowitz of the Rockland Public Defender’s Office, said there was no need for any order of protection. He said nothing has changed since Simon first rejected Holzer’s request at an earlier court session.

Simon said he would consult with the court administration on if he should recuse himself. He said he would provide a written decision by Nov. 6.