Mayor Vows ‘Great’ OPD

Chief Redmond Retires; Full Report On ‘Review’ Anticipated In 2 Weeks


By JIM KEVLIN

•Police Chief Joseph Redmond resigned, effective April 15, but immediately went on administrative leave.
• Officer Michael Breen, the target of police-brutality allegations in a Jan. 28 arrest, was suspended for 30 days without pay pending a hearing he may request on the charges.  Meanwhile, the case has been referred to District Atty. John Muehl for possible further action.
• Lt. Dennis Nayor, Redmond’s deputy, was appointed officer in charge of the Oneonta Police Department, effective midnight Monday, March 7.
• It was announced that an “experienced individual” was already being sought to act as temporary chief until a permanent replacement to Redmond is found, a process that could take a year.
A year and a half of unease about the Oneonta Police Department ended Monday, March 7, with not a whimper but a bang, as Common Council made those decisions, rapid fire, on the future of the 22-officer force.
“While this is a sad day for Oneonta, it is also a new day,” the mayor said in a statement issued at 9:37 p.m. Monday, March 7.  “The mayor and Common Council are committed to providing the community not with a good police department, but a great police department.”
The mayor and Common Council had brought in Joseph F. Loszynski, retired deputy superintendent, internal affairs, New York State Police, a month ago after the police-brutality allegations surfaced.
Loszynski brought in two colleagues, retired troopers Robert Hughes and Maynard Cosnett, who in the past month conducted interviews, reviewed statements and took some sworn testimony -- including from “highly credible civilian witnesses -- in the course of their “review,” according to a press release issued by the mayor’s office at 9:37 p.m. on the day of decision.
The chain of events began at mid-afternoon on Friday, Jan. 28, when Bradford Shanks, 39, was pulled over on Market Street.  He fled the vehicle, and when he was captured, he later reported, an officer held him down and punched him in the head.
The Loszynski review concluded the OPD “did not follow their established standard operating procedures beginning with the incident itself, and subsequently in the handling of Mr. Shanks, the investigation and communication within the Department. 
“Further,” the mayor’s release continues, “there were repeated failures in communication of the actions surrounding the incident and its aftermath to the mayor and Common Council, who have ultimate authority over the police department.”
In discussing the “post-incident conclusions” and resultant changes in departmental procedures, the chief chose to retire.
“Joe Redmond has served the City of Oneonta with distinction for over 30 years and is to be thanked for his commitment to our citizens,” the mayor’s statement said.
It further stated, “The Oneonta Police Department is made up of individuals who have done a good job insuring the safety of our city ... We are confident that the current officers and their continuing leadership will be part of that group.”