Beacon Dispatch

Mayor Gould demotes Sassi; considers further action

Yesterday PoJo reported that Beacon Mayor Clara Lou Gould extended police chief Richard Sassi's unpaid suspension by two weeks. She also made the decision to demote Sassi to an unspecified position. Said the Mayor in her letter to Sassi:

"You clearly have a complete lack of respect for the city administrator, which disrespect led to your gross insubordination towards him ... your misconduct has resulted in a complete lack of trust on all levels of City government ... Over the next week or so, I will be considering to what position you shall be demoted and will advise you when that determination has been made."

Rumors have been circulating in Beacon that Sassi would resign on Monday, but as of now that is still hearsay. While it's good to see the Mayor putting the interests of the community first, she needs to keep going until this situation is resolved in its entirety.

Hearing officer recommends punishment for Sassi

Yesterday the Poughkeepsie Journal reported on the latest developments in the case against Police Chief Richard Sassi. The City of Beacon hired attorney Michael Kranis to review the evidence against Sassi and make recommendations to the city about next steps. According to PoJo:

"[Kranis] concluded Police Chief Richard Sassi is guilty of misconduct and should be punished with at least a two-month unpaid suspension in one of the several disciplinary cases Sassi faces... Mayor Clara Lou Gould is reviewing the report and other documents to decide whether and how to discipline Sassi."

For more Beacon Dispatch coverage of Chief Sassi and the Beacon Police Department, click here.

Chief Sassi turns in his badge

POJO's Dave Paulsen reports that yesterday Beacon Police Chief Richard Sassi turned in his badge, gun, city car, and other effects after hearinbg about additional disciplinary charges from the City that could lead to his termination.

Sassi's attorney, Jonathan Lovett, had this diplomatic spin on recent events. "Quite frankly, the chief is not upset about this," Lovett said. "We know we're dealing with idiots. If they want to dig themselves a deeper hole, go ahead."

For more Beacon Dispatch coverage of Chief Sassi and the Beacon Police Department, click here.

City to Decide on Sassi Charges

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that a decision regarding Chief Sassi's disciplinary hearings should come down by the end of the week.

Says PoJo, "Sassi faces three sets of disciplinary charges. The first was issued September 2004 when City Administrator Joe Braun accused him of lacking professionalism and accountability in budget discussions and misusing and improperly reporting his time off from work.

Since then, Braun has filed two additional sets of charges, accusing Sassi of misconduct, insubordination and incompetence. The most recent charges blame Sassi for failing to implement policy changes recommended by federal investigators more than a year ago."

For more on the Beacon Police Department, check out all the Beacon Dispatch coverage here.

Police Department Struggles with Staffing Issues

In the midst of a spike in petty theft and vandalism, Department struggles with a lack of manpower.

by Kate Fraher

In an interview concerning a recent spike in burglary and vandalism in Beacon, Lt. Glenn Scofield voiced frustration with the Beacon Police Department’s lack of manpower. “Typically we try to have somebody that’s on call to handle [incoming reports],” explains Scofield, “Sometimes it’s not possible due to man power shortage or they’re tied up on something else, but we would normally make every attempt to get a detective out.” These days, the BPD’s patrol staff is at shift minimum. The short-handedness naturally produces an overwhelmed staff; some detectives are carrying double the ideal caseload. “You can manage five or less at one time,” explains Scofield, “some of my detectives are handling ten or more, and as you’re working the cases other ones are coming in and you sometimes tend not to get caught up.” And normal detective bureaus don’t operate like the ones on television, where multiple team members simultaneously work a case. Beacon Detectives are cross-trained to process the scene as well as interview witnesses and suspects. “We have more detectives then some our size,” says Scofield, “but as far as I’m concerned not enough.” While stipulating that it’s not his job to decide these matters, he offers: “I’d like to see more officers to accommodate all the things that we’d like to do, but it’s costly to implement things like that. Overtime’s been an issue here, but at the same time where do you go? Do you have overtime because we’re limited on the number of officers we have or you have significant more hires and then you have to pay salaries and benefits.”

Court Dismisses Sassi, Jr. Defamation Claim

But states that COB nepotism law is invalid for civil service positions and may be invalid in other instances as well

The Federal Court for the Southern District of New York has dismissed Richard Sassi, Jr.'s defamation claim stating that, in the context of the complaint, the claim had no merit. At the same time Judge Brieant stated that the City's nepotism law was invalid with regard to civil service positions and that the law may be invalid in other instances as well.

Richard Sassi, Jr's suit alleged that Councilman Kyriacou conspired with the Mayor, City Administrator, and all members of the City Council to terminate his father's employment with the City and, failing in that effort, created a new nepotism law in order to, "...retaliate against the Plaintiff by prohibiting his promotion within the Police Department so long as his father remained the Chief of Police." The suit also stated that the sole target of the new nepotism law was Richard Sassi, Jr., and that, on various occasions, Councilman Kyriacou attempted to defame Sassi, Jr. with the intent of harming his police career.

The judge ruled that, while the nepotism law was invalid, the Council, with regard to statements made about Sassi, Jr., was, "...acting within its legislative function...," and that Sassi, Jr. is not entitled to any monetary compensation from any of the council members, the Mayor, administrator, or the City as a result of their actions. But the judge’s ruling does state that Sassi Jr.’s claims are still valid with regard to the nepotism law itself, which may, at some future point, require the nepotism law to be rescinded.

Court's ruling available here.

Thanks to TDH for untangling the legalese.

Continued Wrangling Between City Hall and PD

During latest hearing, Administrator Braun accuses Chief Sassi of insubordination, misconduct, and incompetence

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports today that in a hearing yesterday, City of Beacon Chief of Police Richard Sassi, Sr., has not complied with recommendations set down in a Department of Justice report last year. Chief Sassi claims that the City has not provided the legal guidance or financial resources to be able to comply with the DOJ directives. Sassi states simply that the City, "...want(s) me out, and they're willing to try to destroy the department to get me out." 

More bad news for the Beacon Police

I realize there's more to talk about in Beacon than the police department, but the news just keeps getting worse. Today Dan Paulsen reports in the Poughkeepsie Journal that another lawsuit has been filed, this time against two police officers accused of beating a man while in custody in 2003.

The suit is one of "at least four federal lawsuits pending against Beacon police, including three lawsuits that name [Frank] Pompilio as a defendant." The suits all allege that defendants were the victims of excessive force while in custody.

Editorial: Chief Sassi Should Step Down

On February 8th Beacon Police Chief Richard Sassi filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Beacon. In that suit he claims that disciplinary proceedings pending against him are a response to his criticism of City leaders who have asked for more accountability from the Chief.

If the Chief feels he has been harmed in a manner worthy of a civil action, then he should pursue whatever legal means he feels are necessary to resolve those issues. But he should do so as a private citizen. The moment that civil action impairs the Chief's civil responsibilities, the only reasonable response is to step back and let someone else take the reins.

Officer Sues City Over Discrimination

Lawsuit challenges nepotism law

by Michael Daecher

Beacon Police Officer Richard Sassi, Jr. has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Beacon after being denied a promotion in the Beacon Police Department. Sassi is suing the City of Beacon, Mayor Clara Lou Gould, City Administrator Joe Braun, and six city councilman, alleging he was denied the promotion to detective in retaliation for disagreements his father, Beacon Police Chief Richard Sassi, has had with the City Council.