2009 News Articles
- October 30, 2009 Ackerman Secures Agreement to Replace Port Washington Police District's Broken Radio System Congressman arranges for New York State officials to provide new frequency for department’s emergency radio system U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-L.I./Queens) announced today that the Port Washington Police District’s primary emergency radio system – which was knocked out of service in September – is one step closer towards being replaced. The breakdown of the radio system is presently jeopardizing public safety by forcing police officers in Port Washington to rely on their personal cell phones to communicate with each other and with emergency dispatchers. Although police officials have put a temporary backup radio system in place, it has proven to be unreliable due to high levels of static and interference. As a result of Ackerman’s intervention, officials from New York State have agreed to provide the Port Washington Police with a new primary radio channel on which the district can operate. The state will make this channel available by relinquishing an unused 800 MHz frequency that is presently licensed to New York State. Ackerman had urged state officials to relinquish one of their vacant channels for the police district in a letter he sent this week to Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, the Chief Information Officer and Director of the New York State Office for Technology (the agency with jurisdiction over the issue). Ackerman, who initially contacted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about the problem, was directed to the state because New York State is currently licensed for 800 MHz channels and can relinquish them at its own discretion. Ackerman, whose Congressional district encompasses Port Washington, Long Island, intervened in the matter after officials from the Port Washington Police District requested his assistance. Under the agreement, the state will transfer an unused frequency at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, L.I. to the tower at Port Washington Police Headquarters. The move must be approved by the FCC, and the permanent allocation of the channel must be endorsed by New York metropolitan area’s Regional Planning Committee. Ackerman was informed of the state’s decision in a letter – a reply to his correspondence – from Dr. Mayberry-Stewart. “The provision of this new radio channel to the Port Washington Police District has eliminated a real threat to public safety” said Ackerman. “Police officers will once again communicate effectively, allowing them to properly protect the residents of Port Washington. We thank state officials for responding to our urgent request to remedy the critical problem. The Port Washington Police force includes 65 police officers and serves 25,000-30,000 residents on the Port Washington peninsula, as well as the thousands of individuals who work and visit the area. - News source - ackerman.house.gov
September 29, 2009 Man Accused of Running Adoption Scam A man from Long Island is accused of running an adoption scam that cheated prospective parents out of thousands of dollars by falsely promising them babies that didn't exist. Kevin Cohen, 41, was arrested at his home Friday in Roslyn by DA Investigators. He has been charged with grand larceny in the second degree, scheme to defraud in the first degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office. If convicted he faces up to 15 years behind bars For over a period of two years, Cohen is accused of advertising himself as a legal expert specializing in adoption proceedings. He allegedly obtained large sums of cash from couples in exchange for arranging adoptions. Despite being arrested in 2009 on charges of grand larceny, forgery and identity theft charges, Cohen is accused of continuing to search for people looking to adopt. One couple - identified as Deborah and Milton Josephs of Port Washington - apparently shelled out $65,000 in hopes of adopting a child. The District Attorney's Office is asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim in the scam to contact officials at: 516-680-8624. News source - WPIX NEWSROOM
August 12, 2009 Police Impersonator Arrested He claimed to be a retired police officer and carried a badge, a loaded handgun, a dagger, billy club and blackjack - but he was a fakePeter Pinto, 59, of Queens, faces a court hearing Wednesday after he was stopped for a traffic violation and ended up facing far more serious charges of weapons possession and criminal impersonation. He was arrested Monday night after a Port Washington police officer saw him driving a 2004 Hyundai the wrong way on a one-way street, Haven Avenue. When the officer stopped Pinto on Main Street, Pinto showed a police shield and said he was a retired New York City officer, police said. But Pinto had no official identification card, prompting the officer to investigate further. The officer found Pinto was carrying a fully loaded .380 caliber Walther PPK semi-automatic handgun in a holster on his waistband, police said. Police said he was also carrying a fraudulent security identification card as well as the dagger, billy club and blackjack. The Oakland Gardens, Queens, resident was charged with three counts of possession of a dangerous weapon; and one count each of criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a forged instrument and criminal impersonation. -News source - Newsday
- April 14, 2008 Assembly Passes Michelle Schimel's Landmark Crime-Fighting Legislation Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel unveils next generation crime-fighting tool at a microstamping press conference on April 14, 2008. Schimel is joined by (L to R) Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Port Washington Police Chief William Kilfoil, Assemblyman Steven Englebright, Chief Lloyd Perkins, President of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, and Senator Martin Golden of Brooklyn. Great Neck - Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel is pleased to announce the passage of her landmark firearms microstamping legislation (A.9819A) by the New York State Assembly. This crime-fighting technology is designed to aid law enforcement in investigating and solving homicides and other gun related crimes by microstamping the cartridge at discharge. Assemblywoman Schimel's microstamping legislation requires all semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed firearms dealer in the State of New York to be capable of microstamping ammunition by January 1, 2010. Microstamping ensures that when a gun is fired, information identifying the make, model and serial number of the gun is stamped onto the cartridge as numbers and letters. This technology allows law enforcement officials to trace firearms through cartridge casings found at crime scenes, even if the crime gun is never found. Investigators can learn the identity of its original retail purchaser by using the tracing system, which searches manufacturer and dealer sales records. This will provide law enforcement with rapid leads at crime scenes in the first few hours after a homicide or other gun related crime. "The crime-solving potential of microstamping technology is enormous. This innovative tool will aid law enforcement in investigating, arresting, and convicting more perpetrators of gun related crimes, and will help victims of gun violence and their families obtain some degree of justice," said Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel. Schimel, a board member of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence since 1994, has the support of several law enforcement agencies. Senator Martin Golden of Brooklyn is a proponent of microstamping technology. "As a former New York City Police Officer, I support using all technology available to solve crimes and make the Empire State the safest it can be. It is my goal to work with all interested parties to create legislation that will make the utilization of microstamping a reality, a measure that will enhance crime fighting for our law enforcement officers. By making our streets safer we will be improving the lives of New Yorkers from Montauk to Buffalo and from Brooklyn to Messina," said Senator Martin Golden of Brooklyn. This legislation will not place any restrictions on gun ownership or access, will not require any new databases, and will not impose any new costs on the state. Manufacturers will incur minimal costs to adopt this technology, which is estimated to cost between fifty cents and one dollar per firearm. "Straw purchases for semiautomatic pistols would virtually come to a halt under this legislation. Legal purchasers who buy guns for traffickers will be deterred once they know crimes committed with these guns can be traced directly back to them. This will be a strong deterrent to gun violence," said Chief Lloyd Perkins, President of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, nearly 40% of all homicides go unsolved each year. In 2005, the national clearance rate for homicide cases was 62%, with 3,235 unsolved gun related homicides nationwide. While these statistics are sobering, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In the future, New York could see a higher percentage of closed firearm cases if law enforcement officials could identify crime guns solely from cartridge cases collected at crime scenes. "Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel's microstamping bill (A.9819A) adds another tool to help police agencies successfully investigate and prosecute those who engage in the possession and use of illegal weapons. It will serve to make New York a safer state and I applaud Ms. Schimel for introducing this bill," said Chief William Kilfoil of the Port Washington Police District - News source - assembly.state.ny.us
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