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Kingston cop on leave amid payroll probe; safe removed from office
Kingston cop on leave amid payroll probe; safe removed from office<p></p>
KINGSTON — The head of the Detective Division of the Kingston Police Department, who has been put administrative leave, has retained legal counsel in connection with an audit of school district and police payroll records. -
High-ranking Kingston cop accused of stealing $9,000
High-ranking Kingston cop accused of stealing $9,000<p></p>KINGSTON — The head of the Kingston Police Department’s Detective Division was charged with grand larceny, a felony. -
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Kingston police detectives have new leader in wake of Matthews' arrest
Kingston police detectives have new leader in wake of Matthews' arrest<p></p>KINGSTON — A veteran lieutenant has been put in charge of the city police department’s Detective Division following the arrest of the man who led it until two weeks ago. -
Matthews suspended without pay in wake of theft charge
Matthews suspended without pay in wake of theft charge<p></p>KINGSTON — The man who led the city police department’s Detective Division for a decade before being arrested last week for allegedly stealing $9,000 has been suspended without pay, Mayor James Sottile said on Thursday. -
Freeman editorial calls for Matthews suspension without pay
EDITORIAL: The Matthews case<p></p>The arrest of Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews, who headed the 15-member Detective Division of the Kingston Police Department, has sent shock waves through the city. -
Kingston cop’s request for school pay raised red flag, former administrator says
Kingston cop’s request for school pay raised red flag, former administrator says<p></p>KINGSTON — Less than a week after news broke that the city’s lead detective and former head of Kingston High School security had been placed on administrative leave amid a state Comptroller’s Office review of pay records, the school district’s former top business official recalled denying a time sheet submission. -
Kingston mayor unlikely to mention police scandal in annual message
Kingston mayor unlikely to mention police scandal in annual message<p></p>KINGSTON — While a city lawmaker has urged that Mayor James Sottile address issues involving the police department in his annual “Mayor’s Message,” expected to be given tonight, Sottile said Monday it is unlikely that he will discuss such issues. -
Ulster County Comptroller anounces audit of law enforcement on cash funds
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Mayor doesn't mention Matthews scandal in speech
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Freeman investigation reveals embattled Kingston police lieutenant racked up more than $70,000 in OT two years in a row
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State comptroller says he’s found wrongdoing in Kingston Police Department, school district
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Freeman special report reveals cop's pay and benefits totaled nearly $770K from 2007-10
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State Comptroller says Kingston cop cheated 16 times in double dipping
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Kingston school board leader seeks internal audit in wake of double-dipping revelation
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FBI subpoenas records from Ulster County and Kingston in Matthews case
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Kingston schools tighten oversight of security pay
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FBI probe reaches beyond Matthews,sheriff and mayor believe
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FBI looking beyond Matthews; subpoenas focus on URGENT
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Double-dipping probe leads some to question use of police for school security
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Kingston schools ramp up oversight of security pay
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Freeman editorial: School superintendent, police chief missing in action
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Town of Ulster hasn’t gotten promised cash from URGENT, supervisor says
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FBI requests records from Kingston school district in Matthews probe (video)
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Sottile says Kingston should hire part-time auditor
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Gretzinger will present alternatives for Kingston school security
Gretzinger will present alternatives for Kingston school security<p>
KINGSTON — School district Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger will present the Board of Education with alternatives to using off-duty police officers as school security guards in the aftermath of a state audit finding a high-ranking city officer was paid by both the city and school district for simultaneous work. -
Speakers laud Gretzinger, support keeping officers in Kingston schools
Speakers laud Gretzinger, support keeping officers in Kingston schools<p>
KINGSTON — A handful of speakers expressed support for the Kingston school district’s current security program and the district’s leadership after Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger and school board President James Shaughnessy held a press conference to address accusations that a high-ranking Kingston police officer. -
Don't let scandal distract from education, Kingston school board president says
Don't let scandal distract from education, Kingston school board president says<p>KINGSTON — The president of the Kingston Board of Education says he wants to ensure the district’s core mission of educating students is not overlooked amid law-enforcement investigations if a suspended city police officer who also worked as a school security guard. -
Chief says Matthews case 'disturbing,' announces plan for own retirement
Chief says Matthews case 'disturbing,' announces plan for own retirement<p>KINGSTON — City Police Chief Gerald Keller says a “shadow” has been cast over his department by investigations of a suspended high-ranking officer, but he said crime-fighting efforts have not been diminished. -
Kingston schools boss, former assistant still have differing accounts of Matthews situation
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Kingston school district denies Freedom of Information request on subpoena
Kingston school district denies Freedom of Information request on subpoena<p>
KINGSTON — A federal grand jury has subpoenaed records from the Kingston school district in the wake of a double-dipping scandal, but it is not yet clear what kinds of records are being sought. -
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Pritchard aide corroborates account of meeting about pay dispute
KINGSTON —- A former Kingston school district employee said she remembers the day the district’s former top business official was called into Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger’s office to explain why he rejected a pay claim from a high-ranking city police officer who also worked for the district as an off-duty security guard.
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Subpoena demands all records on off-duty officers working security for Kingston schools
KINGSTON — Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed all records related to off-duty law-enforcement work for the Kingston school district in the wake of allegations by the state Comptroller’s Office that a high-ranking city police officer double dipped from the city and school district payrolls. Read more -
Kingston won't funnel federal aid to Carnegie Library project this year
KINGSTON — The $2.93 million project to renovate the Carnegie library building on the Kingston High School campus will not be getting federal entitlement money from the city this year, Mayor James Sottile said on Thursday. Sottile, who initially pledged a total of $200,000 for the project from federal money given to the city, said Entitlement Program funds cannot be distributed to a group or program that is under audit or investigation. Read more. -
Ulster comptroller freezes funds for confidential probes
KINGSTON — Citing both ongoing criminal investigations and deficiencies in protocols, the Ulster County comptroller has frozen funds used by the county sheriff and district attorney for confidential investigations.
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Lawmaker says comptroller sent wrong message by freezing money
KINGSTON — The majority leader of the Ulster County legislator, whose day job is city of Poughkeepsie police officer, says county Comptroller Elliott Auerbach was wrong to announce he has frozen money that a crime-fighting task force uses to buy drugs and pay informants. Read more. -
EDITORIAL: Follow the money
The majority leader of the Ulster County Legislature thinks the county comptroller was “irresponsible” to freeze law enforcement funds used to pay informants and make drug buys. Paul Hansut, R-Lloyd, says the comptroller’s action sent the wrong message, telling criminals “‘Go deal your drugs and have a good time.’”
We, on the other hand, wonder what took the comptroller so long. Read more -
Suspended Kingston cop files for retirement
KINGSTON — Suspended Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews, who has been accused of stealing $9,000 from the police department, will retire from the city’s police force effective April 7, officials said today.
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Ulster County Comptroller releases some funding to drug-busting police team
KINGSTON – Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach has released some funding to a drug-busting police squad after freezing all of it because of inadequate controls over the money.
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Suspended Kingston detective set to retire with pension
KINGSTON — Suspended Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews, who has been accused of stealing $9,000 from the police department, will retire from the city’s police force effective April 7, officials said. Read more -
Sottile changes course, OKs $50K for Carnegie library project
KINGSTON — In a reversal, Mayor James Sottile now says the city can give $50,000 in federal Entitlement Program money to the Kingston school district’s Carnegie library renovation project, and a Common Council committee has voted in favor of the allocation. Read more. -
DA says he expects to prosecute Matthews
Running for re-election, Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnwright said he expects to prosecute Kingston Police Department Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews, who was charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing $9,000 from the city and has been accused of double dipping from the city and Kingston school district payrolls.
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Kingston schools have security staffing edge over other small-city districts
KINGSTON — The Kingston school district, which is considering new security configurations in the wake of a double-dipping scandal, has a relatively large security presence compared to other small-city districts, like Poughkeepsie, Albany and Schenectady.
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Security director for Kingston schools favors current system
KINGSTON — The Kingston school district would not save a dramatic amount of money if it changed its security arrangement, and the quality of the service probably would be lower, the district’s security director has told the Board of Education.
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Kingston schools chief to retire in January
KINGSTON — Kingston schools Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger, citing "mixed feelings and emotions,” announced Wednesday he will retire as of Jan. 6, six months shy of the end of his contract and more than seven years after he took the helm.
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Challenger to Ulster County DA: Recuse self from Kingston cop case
KINGSTON — Jonathan Sennett, the Democratic candidate for Ulster County district attorney, said on Thursday that incumbent Republican Holley Carnright should recuse himself from the investigation and prosecution of the former head of the Kingston Police Department’s Detective Division.<p>
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Kingston school board president wants new superintendent selected by December
KINGSTON — Board of Education President James Shaughnessy said he hopes to have a replacement for retiring Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger selected by "Thanksgiving, early December," but he said the board still needs to discuss the process for selecting a successor.<p> Read more. -
TINTI TAKES CHARGE: Head of Kingston detectives settles into new role
Tinti, a 20-year veteran of the city police force, was made maestro of the Detective Division in April amid the scandal that brought down Timothy Matthews. Read more -
Grand jury probes charges against ex-Kingston cop
KINGSTON — An Ulster County grand jury investigation is under way into charges against a now-retired Kingston police lieutenant and former head of Kingston High School security who is accused of stealing $9,000 from a police department safe and charging the city and school district 16 times for the same hours worked in 2009-10. Read more -
Announcement due in probe of Kingston cop
KINGSTON — Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright has scheduled a Monday morning press conference regarding the investigation of former Kingston police Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews. Read more -
INDICTMENT
Former Kingston police Det. Lt. Timothy Matthews has been indicted on 13 counts for allegedly stealing $200K+ from the city, county and Ulster Savings Bank. Read more -
Kingston mayor will appoint new top cop
KINGSTON — Mayor James Sottile said that he will appoint a new police chief before the department’s current top cop retires at the end of October. -
Ex-Kingston cop freed after denying theft of more than $200K
KINGSTON — Timothy Matthews, the former city police official accused of stealing more than $200,000 in public and private money, pleaded not guilty on to a 13-count indictment. -
Veteran Kingston cop wants to be city police chief
A veteran lieutenant says he wants to take the helm of the city police department when Chief Gerald Keller retires at the end of October. -
Kingston school chief's salary tops $200K
Gretzinger’s prorated salary increase for 2011-12 follows a rocky school year marked by a double-dipping pay scandal involving a now-retired Kingston Police Department official who also worked for the school district, among other issues. -
Kingston school board gives superintendent generally good grades
In the aftermath of a tumultuous 2010-11 school year, the Kingston Board of Education’s evaluation of Superintendent Gerard Gretzinger stated he “met the goals and standards that were established for the year,” according to board President James Shaughnessy. -
Kingston school district security audit finds sloppy bookkeeping
An internal audit of the Kingston school district’s security program highlighted numerous incidents of sloppy bookkeeping over four years. Read more. -
Double-dipping questions remain in Kingston school district
A remaining question from the double-dipping scandal that played out earlier this year is why rejected pay claims made by a now-retired city detective lieutenant for overlapping off-duty city school security work hours were not reported to the school board. Read more. -
Kingston district failed to monitor vendor payments, state says
The state Comptroller’s Office described lax oversight of the city school district’s security program that led to this year’s double-dipping scandal as part of a systemic problem with reporting and monitoring requirements in contracts with outside vendors. Read more. -
GOP mayoral candidate wants Kingston school district probe
Republican mayor candidate Andi Turco-Levin called for the city to investigate the Kingston school district and help school officials put procedures in place to “make vendor contracts transparent and ethical” in response to a state comptroller’s report issued this week. Read more. -
Kingston school auditor viewed double-dip matter as closed, board president says
A school district auditor did not tell the Board of Education about a claim for security pay from which school officials ultimately deducted overlapping hours because the auditor felt the matter had been resolved by the time she became aware of it, school board President James Shaughnessy says.
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Egidio Tinti to be Kingston's next police chief
The head of the city police department’s Detective Division has been chosen to succeed Police Chief Gerald Keller, who is retiring. Read more. -
Sparring for DA: Carnright, Sennett differ on public corruption cases
Incumbent Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright and Democrat Jon Sennett, who is challenging him for the post this November, sparred over their experience, qualifications and the handling of public corruption cases during a debate Monday at the Freeman. Read more -
EDITORIAL: Kingston's new police chief
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Ulster DA, challenger spar over Kingston cop case
Jonathan Sennett, the Democratic candidate for Ulster County district attorney, on Thursday continued to hammer his opponent, incumbent Republican Holley Carnright, for not recusing himself from the criminal case against former Kingston Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews. Read more. -
Gloves are off in race for Ulster County district attorney
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Ulster County DA, opponent spar over bank account
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Freeman editorial endorses Carnright for District Attorney
"WE do find ourselves agreeing with Sennett that Carnright has not convincingly explained why he shouldn’t have recused himself from investigating and prosecuting the Matthews case. " Read More -
Carnright is re-elected Ulster DA
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Ulster County charter panel focuses on comptroller's duties
Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright called on the commission to closely examine the language governing the comptroller, saying Auerbach has failed to carry out his responsibility to audit departments and has instead used his office to advance a political agenda. Auerbach was highly critical of Carnright’s office and its handling of confidential informant funds handed over to former Kingston Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews. Read more. -
Exiting mayor reflects on decade in office
Sottile calls regrettable a scandal that rocked the city police department earlier this year with the indictment of former Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews on multiple charges stemming from Matthews’ alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in public money. Read more. -
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MATTHEWS PLEADS GUILTY
Former Kingston police Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews pleaded guilty today to two counts of grand larceny and has been sentenced to three tio nine years in state prison according to the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. Read more.
