CUOMO ON THE CASE (Troopergate, State Police, Spitzer, dirty tricks, journalists, Bruno, Soares)

It's up to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo now: Gov. Paterson, as The Post's Fredric U. Dicker reports today, has asked the AG to open a criminal probe of the State Police in the wake of Eliot Spitzer's Dirty Tricks campaign.

"Recent reported events raise questions of possible political interference with the State Police," Paterson wrote to Cuomo, "and I am determined to not only ascertain the veracity of such reports but to do everything within my power to protect . . . the reputation of the State Police."

Paterson's move followed Dicker's report yesterday that troopers may have run a renegade Dirty Tricks unit - possibly for years.

Lawmakers complained to Paterson that troopers targeted them for unwarranted traffic stops and "interfered in their personal lives," a top Paterson aide told Dicker.

One source said a State Police unit may have kept tabs on numerous lawmakers, "unfriendly" journalists - and maybe Paterson himself.

Soares had more than enough dots to connect - if he truly wanted to see the whole picture. He even noted that Spitzer arranged for a key former State Police official, Dan Wiese, to tell a newspaper that troopers "had long held concerns" about Bruno.

The brief handed him by Paterson allows him to open a full criminal investigation of the State Police, and a parallel civil undertaking as well.

"I will instruct the State Police to be fully cooperative with your investigation," Paterson wrote.

Cuomo's own report last year got the Dirty Tricks scheme right the first time - and he didn't have subpoena power then; now he does.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- In a brief statement released late Wednesday afternoon, Acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton said simply, "Today I advised the Governor's Office that I will be retiring from State Police service. My last day is expected to be April 4th. I want to thank the Governor's Office for allowing me the great opportunity to serve the people of the state of New York in this capacity."

It must go deep...

Gov. taps 26-year veteran to command state police
By ARAMIS M. GRANT
Legislative Gazette Staff Writer
Mon, Mar 31, 2008

Gov. David A. Paterson has nominated retired state police Col. Harry Corbitt to succeed Preston L. Felton as superintendent of the state troopers.

Corbitt is scheduled to take office in an acting capacity beginning April 4 until the state Senate votes on his confirmation.

“The superintendent appointment is probably the most important appointment we could have in our government,” Paterson said.

“It is a tremendous honor to be nominated to the position of superintendent of the New York State Police,” Corbitt said. “We will work diligently together to provide outstanding service to the citizens of the state of New York,” he said of his plans for the state police.

“Col. Corbitt has been a distinguished member of the New York State Police for more than two decades,” said Paterson. The governor also said that Corbitt has served with distinction throughout his career in law enforcement and has demonstrated a vast array of skills and abilities as both a top administrator and field commander.

During a press conference held in the governor’s Manhattan offices last week, Corbitt said he was honored by the governor’s nomination.

“It is certainly a proud agency,” said Corbitt, that was built on the foundation of integrity and ethical standards.

“We have a long tradition of service in this state; it is one of the finest police agencies actually in the world,” Corbitt said. “I look forward to working in that position.”

Corbitt served in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence Division from 1966 to 1972, receiving the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces.

After six years of military service, Corbitt joined the state police in 1978 and served as a state trooper in Troop E until 1984 when he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served as a non-commissioned officer in charge of the Basic School at the state police academy.

After being appointed to zone sergeant in 1988, Corbitt was promoted to the position of lieutenant and served with the Traffic Services Section at Division Headquarters and the state police academy. In 1991, Corbitt was promoted to captain and then to major in 1993, becoming the commanding officer of Troop T, which patrols the state Thruway.

In 1994, Corbitt was once again promoted, becoming staff inspector for employee relations focusing on the issue of racial profiling. He became the deputy superintendent for employee relations in 1997 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and then colonel.

In 2001, Corbitt began serving as the deputy superintendent in charge of the Internal Affairs Bureau until he retired from the agency in 2004. He recently completed a term as the director of safe schools and violence prevention for the city of Albany School District.

New York State Police Benevolent Association President Daniel De Federicis said the effectiveness of the state police superintendent has a direct effect on the PBA’s members’ safety and well-being, and that the competence of the superintendent is always one of the PBA’s most important issues.

According to De Federicis, the PBA has cultivated a good relationship with Corbitt during his many years in commanding positions and is hopeful that Corbitt will bring a fresh perspective to PBA issues.

“The PBA looks forward to working with Col. Corbitt again, this time in the position of superintendent, on the significant challenges facing the members of the New York State Police,” De Federicis said. He added that Corbitt understands the unique challenges that PBA members face everyday.

Corbitt has been a lifetime member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives since 1992 and is a founding member of the Central New York chapter, where he served as the chapter’s president and later as a vice president for Region 1, which includes the states of New York, Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

According to NOBLE Deputy Director Joseph Akers, the organization is made up of law enforcement chief executive officers and command-level officials, primarily African-American, who focus on improving the quality of law enforcement service in the country through training, professional competence and personal example.

Akers said Corbitt is an expert voice on traffic safety, serving as one of the authoritive voices in that area. He said Corbitt’s service has helped in the reduction of death and bodily injury in traffic, where persons of color in particular are failing to wear seatbelts.

“We are really proud of him,” Akers said. “…if confirmed, it speaks to his credibility in the law enforcement community and his commitment to justice by action,” said Akers of Corbitt’s appointment.

During the nomination announcement with Paterson, Corbitt said he has known Felton for some time and that Felton is an honorable man. “Obviously in any organization, sometimes there’s an unfortunate thing that may happen that may characterize a person in a snapshot,” Corbitt said. “And perhaps Preston has been characterized in that snapshot. But he did have an outstanding career,” he said of Felton’s tenure during the Troopergate scandal, where former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s administration made efforts to discredit Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, R,C,I-Brunswick, by tracking Bruno’s use of state aircraft to attend campaign events.

“I am gratified that the governor has nominated someone to fill the superintendent position on a full-time basis,” Felton said in a prepared statement. Felton said he is pleased Paterson has seen fit to nominate someone with such intimate knowledge of the state police.

“I wish Harry Corbitt all the best in leading the finest law enforcement agency in the country,” Felton said.

Felton who was appointed interim superintendent of the state police in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer but was never confirmed by the Senate, announced his resignation earlier this month, effective Friday.

http://www.legislativegazette.com/read_more.php?story=2952

The dirty tricks group in the NY State Police started when Gov. Pataki came into office. Gov. Pataki made Col. Dan Weise top man at the State Police and a dirty tricks unit was formed. The purpose of the unit was to collect dirt on all elected officials, both Republicans and Democrats for future use. Just before Pataki left office, a job at the New York Power Authority was created (double-dipping)for Dan Weise with a salary of $175K plus his state police pension of $60K Since Dan Weise used to work with Spitzer, he offered the services of his secret unit in the State Police and at the Power Authority to perform the same services they were performing for Pataki. Few people ever heard of the NY Power Authority becasue their job is to run state-owned power plants and yet there is a secret dirty tricks unit operating in their White Plains office. Troopergate is not about Republicans and Democrats or Conservatives and Liberals but it is about who is able to collect dirt on ALL politicians for future use. Dan Weise was mister untouchable under Pataki and he was going to remain mister untouchable under Spitzer because he has a large database on the wrong doings of elected officials from both political parties. I doubt that Paterson or Coumo could effectively disband this secret unit because many of the elected officials from both political parties, at all levels of government from county to state, have so much to hide from the voters. As long as human beings hold political office, a secret unit for gathering embarassing information will exist, but I just don’t think that tax payers should be the one to pay thier salaries.

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