Layoffs hit TPD



TEDESCO

Sources say five civilian employees at the Troy Police Department have been informed they will get laid off in January, 2015.

The five employees are members of the Civil Service Employees Association. Their titles and job descriptions were not immediately available. Civilian employees generally perform such tasks as automobile repair, data entry and secretarial work.

They were informed by Chief John Tedesco, Deputy Chief Richard McAvoy and other PD brass Wednesday afternoon.

ROSAMILIA

The layoffs come as the city grapples with what the state Comptroller said could be as much as an $800,000 deficit this year and a report that said the city spent $5.9 million more than it took in from 2011 through 2013.

Mayor Lou Rosamilia sent a request asking that all city departments cut their budgets by 3 percent in an effort to save $1.9 million, the amount the city is deferring from next year to 2016 in pension costs.

More information as it becomes available.

Complaint: Chief Tedesco doesn't like Irish cops (UPDATED)

I've been told by a very good source that McAvoy was trying to keep peace that night (you'll have to read the post to know what night I'm talking about) and not part of the problem. I'll say again, if there wasn't an IA investigation I would not have written about it in 2011 nor mentioned it here. I'll also say again, McAvoy and Coons are both well respected, good cops. I'll also say again, ethnicity has nothing to do with why Coons hasn't been promoted to captain.

In one of the funniest stories I’ve heard in a long time, Sgt. John Coons filed a complaint with the Division on Human Rights claiming that Chief John Tedesco refuses to promote him to captain because … are you ready for this … he’s Irish.

In the complaint, according to the Times Union, Coons claims Tedesco bypassed Coons in favor of his friends and fellow Italians, and unless Coons goes by his nickname – Coonsi – his name doesn’t end in a vowel.

Coons was ranked second on the captain’s list but was passed over in 2011, 2013 and 2014. He was promoted to sergeant in 2004 after making a lateral transfer from Cohoes to Troy in 1993.

The way Civil Service works though is you take a test and whoever is doing the hiring or promoting can pick from the top three slots. If, in one round, the person with the highest score is picked, for example, everyone slides up a notch and the second best test score becomes the best and the third becomes the second and the fourth becomes the third and is eligible for the next hire or promotion.

It gives whoever is hiring or promoting some flexibility in the process while ensuring the person getting hired isn’t just a political hack, next door neighbor or nephew.

Coons retained attorney Eric Sanders, of New York City to file the complaint. He’s the same guy who represented Anthony Conyers, a black officer who sued because he wasn’t promoted to sergeant. He’s now a sergeant but is considering another lawsuit claiming he is not getting the appropriate training, acc 
ording to the TU.

I don’t think the Division on Human Rights has any teeth though. In other words, I don’t think it can impose sanctions or penalize the TPD or Tedesco at all.

On the flip side of that, a captain makes $30,000 more than a sergeant so if Coons doesn’t think he will get it before he retires – which of course will impact his pension for many, many years to come – what’s the harm in pushing the envelope.

Let me say I’ve known Coons for a long time, probably almost as long as I was at The Record. He was always seemed like a decent sort and always went out of his way to shake my hand, talk about Troy politics or compliment me on one column or another. Even if he didn’t like the subject matter or the slant I took he still said he liked reading them.

Professionally, I’ve never heard a bad word about Coons. I always got the impression he was a solid cop who got into the business for all the right reasons and never forgot them

Until one night on Saturday, April9 2011, shortly after Tedesco snubbed him for captain in favor of Joe Centanni, who tied for third on the captain's exam while Coons placed second. And yes, as the vowel implies, Centanni is I-talian.

On that night, Coons and his cousin now Assistant Chief Buddy McAvoy had a few too many and ended up at the Red Front, where Centanni’s mom works. They started giving her somewhat of a hard time and other employees decided the best course of action was to call the cops on the cops.

I’ve certainly spent my fair share of time in and around Troy’s watering holes and still hold true to that old adage of “what happens downtown stays downtown.” The above scenario would have fit into a “what happens downtown” even though the Red Front isn’t technically in downtown. And it would have stayed right there if it weren’t for the internal affairs investigation it sparked.

When a complaint is made by the public about a police officer it may or may not warrant IA involvement, and I’ve been around long enough to know Tedesco didn’t have to order an investigation into the matter. But, like Coons, McAvoy is a good cop who was passed over for a promotion to chief and odds are the two cousins made their respective displeasure known not only at the Red Front but around the TPD too. There is no doubt in my mind Tedesco was sending a message to the two that he was the chief – like it or not.

Well, Coons and McAvoy didn’t like it and probably still don’t but that won’t make Coons a captain anytime soon and I hope a complaint to the Commission on Human Rights doesn’t either. Nothing against Coons at all, but the chief is the chief and as such he promotes who he wants so long as it's within the parameters set forth by Civil Service.

Maybe that night at the Red Front has more to do with the fact he isn’t wearing captain stripes than the fact he’s Irish.  

And now for odds on potential Republican candidates

The boys in Vegas said it was no easy task to put together a list of potential Republican candidates, and actually chuckled over some of them.

Whoever chooses to run – and that may be enough to get the nomination – will be at a distinct enrollment disadvantage to whoever ends up being the Democratic Party nominee.

MCGRATH

Yes, voters in Troy have ousted entire slates of candidates because they didn’t like the way things were going, and while things are going close to that ouster threshold I’m not convinced they are there yet. Close, but not yet. The Democrats must be thinking along the same lines too since the party’s front man by default, Mayor Lou Rosamalia, just hired a new spokesman and you really don’t do that unless you feel the need to shake things up a bit.

Anyway, without further ado, according to Vegas, the odds on potential Republicans ending up being the candidate come November:

GORDON

-Mark McGrath, 5-1: The former eight-year councilman is probably the party’s strongest candidate given he won handily in a Democratic district four times thanks, in part, to pragmatism that crosses party lines. He also knows city government, has name recognition and will not have to give up a job or another elected office should he choose to run. That said, it will take a lot of convincing for him to throw his hat in the ring.

-Jim Gordon, 7-1: I think the first-term councilman is doing a decent job of being the loyal opposition for the minority caucus of two. He has decent name recognition but had a difficult time winning in the ‘Burgh until this time around when Kevin McGrath decided not to run. Since the Council is also up next November he would have to give up his seat to run for mayor if he chooses. I think he has his eye on it but it would be a risky move by him and the Republicans.  

MANTELLO

-Carmella Mantello, 9-1: The former councilwoman and former Council and mayoral candidate would likely want to give City Hall another run but don’t expect the GOP to be too keen on that idea. She is, however, a hard working candidate and is nearly guaranteed a respectable showing so if the Republicans decide to punt next year and concentrate on the Council, which is a possibility, she may get the nod by default.

-Dan Crawley, 10-1: The former deputy mayor and current executive secretary of the Troy Housing Authority would make a solid mayor but I don’t know if he has it in him to run a campaign as the front man. Furthermore, I don’t know if he wants to leave the cocoon that is THA and jump into the mainstream spotlight. But, his name has been floated and as I said, it wasn’t easy coming up with a list of potentials.



TUTUNJIAN

-Harry Tutunjian, 12-1: The former mayor and councilman would probably like another four years in office but he comes off two city wide losses for Legislature so for him to win this time around – during a presidential year when turnout is generally higher which means more Democrats at the polls in Troy – is a tough sell. Not that Tutunjian had a bad eight-year run as mayor, but if the GOP backs him this time you know there is nobody else.



TEDESCO

-John Tedesco, 15-1: I have no inside knowledge that the police chief would want to give up being police chief, move into the city and run for mayor but if he did he would make a pretty good candidate. Despite Rosamilia’s move appointing a police commissioner Tedesco came out looking pretty good in the end. Again, his name was floated to me so I included him.

-Debbie Witkowski, 15-1: The current comptroller at the Troy Housing Authority and former city comptroller would be a great candidate if they GOP can convince her to run, which is a longshot. She knows and respects the political game but under Democratic and Republican administrations in City Hall, and now at the THA, she has managed to stay above the fray. While she would be a solid candidate, I’d be surprised if the GOP convinced her to run.

 

-Richard “Buddy” McAvoy, 20-1: As I was tying this up someone pitched the deputy chief’s name and since candidates are scarce I figured I would throw it in. I learned too he was considered for sheriff before the party picked Jack Mahar so he has a political bent to him and unlike Tedesco he lives in the city. Outside of that, I really don’t know what else to say about him.

  

The FBI visits the TPD (UPDATED)

TEDESCO

An FBI agent was at the Troy Police Department to interview Chief John Tedesco at 9 a.m. this morning, according to multiple sources.

What transpired is unclear, but Tedesco did publically call on the FBI to investigate allegations of impropriety in his decision to release a letter to Frank Fogarty confirming the Cohoes resident’s allegations that Officer Kyle Jones used excessive force during a Dec. 23, 2012 arrest.

(Since posting this, multiple sources have told me Internal Affairs records were seized by the FBI.)

Tedesco hired attorney Brian Premo to represent him in any potential litigation against the city since he was stripped of nearly all his duties with the February appointment of Commissioner Anthony Magnetto. Premo was not present at Tedesco’s meeting with the FBI and would not comment on the specifics of any FBI activity.

“He (Tedesco) previously called for an investigation by an outside agency into the Police Department and Internal Affairs and it’s good news for the City of Troy,” Premo said. “Perhaps now the mayor will realize this is a serious public safety matter and more than a ‘distraction.’”

MAGNETTO

Internal Affairs, headed up by Capt. Terry Buchanan, did conclude Jones used excessive force when arresting Fogarty for fighting on Broadway in Troy. As per protocol, according to Tedesco, he released the findings to Fogarty. Seven months later, the Police Benevolent Association filed an IA complaint against the chief for releasing the letter. The chief, and the letter, say the investigation was concluded while the PBA maintains Jones did not exhaust all of his appeal options.

As far as anyone knows, there has been no disciplinary action taken against Jones. Though, Tedesco said he told others in the department that the case should be handed to the District Attorney’s Office to pursue possible criminal charges.

If it were you or me we would likely be charged with assault. A police officer is really no different if they use excessive force. Actually, I would say the standard is higher since the complaint says the beating occurred after the arrest which means Fogarty was likely in handcuffs.

Also, according to the Times Union, Tedesco did meet with Buchanan and Deputy Chief Richard “Buddy” McAvoy on Monday. There is no indication of what transpired behind closed doors. I find it odd that two with less seniority can investigate one with more, but then again this is Troy.

Also, according to the TU, the FBI agent met with Buchanan and Capt. John Cooney as well as Tedesco. I may have gotten that information too, but The Record kept my Rolodex.

Meanwhile, Tedesco, through an eight-page letter by Premo (pictured left), called on the Troy City Council to hold a hearing on the matter. In the letter, Premo outlines his belief that the Police Benevolent Association, Mayor Lou Rosamilia and Commissioner Tony Magnetto, among others, basically conspired to get Tedesco to quit his job.

Premo’s letter really says basically what I’ve been saying since Tedesco was appointed by then Mayor Harry Tutunjian over Magnetto and now Deputy Chief Buddy McAvoy – that the PBA didn’t want Tedesco from the get go beca 
 
 
use it knew it would shake up the department, used its considerable political influence to get those who can do something about to do something about it and ultimately want control of the department back.

My guess is, though, when a lawyer wields the pen, with the ink comes the power to bring a lawsuit and that carries a bit more weight than a hack columnist.

As of now, the Council has not responded to Tedesco’s request and Rosamilia has called the chief’s actions a “distraction.”