Cold Spring's New Officer-In-Charge Beacon Democrats Back Council
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[FREE] Serving Philipstown and Beacon A Craftsman at Work Page 9 MAY 19, 2017 161 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.com Cold Spring’s New Officer-in-Charge NYPD veteran says he likes to walk the beat By Michael Turton n April, the Cold Spring Board of Trustees appointed Larry Burke as Iofficer-in-charge of the village police department, succeeding George Kane. Burke, 51, who lives in North Highlands with his wife, joined the force in 2014 and now oversees 12 officers (all village offi- cers, including Burke, are part-time). We spoke with him at the Cold Spring Police Department office on Main Street. His re- sponses have been edited for brevity. Where did you grow up? In Inwood, on the northern tip of Man- hattan, just north of the Bronx and south of Marble Hill. As a youngster, what did you dream of becoming? I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Haldane kindergarteners sit with their new elm. See story on Page 19. Photo by Anita Peltonen I had always seen the officer walking around our neighborhood, keeping us in line when we needed it. He knew our par- Roger Ailes Dies at 77 ents and everyone in the neighborhood. I Fox News founder was former Garrison resident band to me, to his son Zachary, thought it would be a great job. You could and a loyal friend to many. He take the police test when you were 16-and- By Chip Rowe was also a patriot, profoundly a-half years of age. They called me when grateful to live in a country I was 18 and did a background investiga- oger Ailes, the former head of Fox News who spent the last that gave him so much oppor- tion, although I couldn’t go into the acad- decade of his life as a resident of Garrison and a political tunity to work hard, to rise — emy until I was 20. Rforce in Philipstown, died on May 17 at age 77. According and to give back. Is “cop” still considered a to a report by CNN, he fell at his Florida home eight days ago and “During a career that derogatory term? hit his head, after which his condition deteriorated. stretched over more than five Roger Ailes Fox News photo Not for me, although “police officer” is In a statement on May 17, his wife, Elizabeth Ailes, said: “I decades, his work in entertain- more professional. Back in the day in the am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, ment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. neighborhood, it was always, “The cop’s on Roger Ailes, passed away this morning. Roger was a loving hus- And so even as we mourn his death, we (Continued on Page 8) the block … The cop this, the cop that ….” When did you join the police force? I went to the New York City Police Acad- Beacon Democrats Back Council Newcomers emy in 1987. You were assigned to housing, Committee declines to endorse two incumbents transit or regular NYPD. I was assigned to transit and attended that academy By Jeff Simms and worked in the subway system until I he Beacon Democratic Committee has revealed its endorse- joined the regular NYPD in 1992. ments for this fall’s local elections and is favoring newcom- What was it like being a police Ters for all four ward-based seats on the City Council. officer in New York? Notably, the committee declined to endorse two Democratic in- When you’re a rookie they put you in the cumbents, Omar Harper in Ward 2 and Ali Muhammad in Ward 4. high-crime areas, which for me was the Instead, the committee will back John Rembert in Ward 2 and 40th precinct in the South Bronx. You ran Amber Grant in Ward 4. It also endorsed Terry Nelson in Ward 1 from job to job answering 911 calls. After and Jodi McCredo in Ward 3. None of the four have held political that I got into community policing, which office before. I loved. My patrol was 149th Street and Peggy Ross, who represents Ward 1, and Pam Wetherbee, who Cortland Avenue to 151st Street. You went represents Ward 3, said they will not run for re-election. out every day, walked the beat, went into Omar Harper, left, and Ali Muhammad File photos The Beacon Democrats also (Continued on Page 7) (Continued on Page 6) 2 MAY 19, 2017 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.com Putnam SPCA Proposes Dangerous Dog Act Would place restrictions on plaint. If a judge finds probable cause to the last two years, a judge may order eu- to wear a bright orange fluorescent collar believe the animal is dangerous, he or she thanasia or permanent confinement. and could not be penned within 500 feet animals and owners can order it seized. While the proposed Putnam legislation of a school, hospital, nursing home, day- A hearing must be scheduled within mirrors the state law, it includes a few care center or public park. The property By Holly Crocco five days, during which the complainant additional provisions. For instance, any owner would be required to post 12-inch- must prove by “convincing evidence” that dog deemed dangerous would have to be square “Beware of Dog” signs facing in all fter successfully lobbying Putnam the animal is dan- penned in by walls directions with a photo of the animal. County for a public registry of resi- gerous. If a judge or fencing at least 8 Finally, the proposed law would require Adents convicted of animal abuse, agrees, the dog feet high. the owner to purchase a $500 dog license. the Putnam Society for the Prevention of can be neutered “When you have “We should make it onerous,” said Ross. Cruelty to Animals has asked the Legisla- or spayed or must an animal like this “We don’t want the dog in this county.” ture to pass a Dangerous Dogs Act. always be leashed living next door to Ross could not say how many dogs in During the May 10 Rules Committee meet- and/or muzzled in you, we don’t want the county have been deemed dangerous ing, Putnam SPCA Chief Kenneth Ross ex- public under the it to be able to jump by a judge. “There’s no way to get a grasp plained the proposal, which would target control of an adult over a fence,” Ross unless you go town-by-town,” he said. For dogs that have gone through the court system age 21 or older. explained. An “in- that reason, the SPCA is also proposing to and been declared “dangerous” by a judge. Among other restrictions, its owner also visible fence,” where the animal wears a legislators a registry that would include “We want to know where these ticking must maintain at least $100,000 in liabil- shock collar that is triggered by a buried the dog’s breed, age and photo, the date time bombs are,” he said. ity insurance. wire, would not provide enough protec- the dog was declared dangerous, and the While some municipalities have their If a dog is proven to have attacked with- tion because it could malfunction. A first owner’s name and address. own dangerous dog laws, most rely on out being provoked, has a history of unjus- responder called to the home in an emer- Lawmakers agreed to forward the pro- state law, which allows victims, witnesses tified attacks or has caused serious injury gency would also be at risk, Ross said. posal to the county Law Department for or law enforcement officers to file a com- or death to a companion animal within In addition, the dog would be required review. Beacon Firehouse Plan Shifts from Dog Park Dutchess County Building on that site would cost more services in there.” up front than Memorial Park, but could The council voted 6 partnership possible prove wise in the long run, Kyriacou said. to 1, with Ali Muham- “If we were to choose the first choice se- mad dissenting (he By Jeff Simms lected by the committee, or another site on said the council needed Main Street,” he said, “we would be able to finally make a deci- he long-running effort to identify a to kill at least four birds with one stone. sion), to table the vote site for a centralized Beacon fire sta- It will be a firehouse, we could be talking on the dog park, pend- Ttion will continue, as the City Coun- about relocating City Hall, we could be ing a discussion with Beacon's Memorial Park dog lot Photo by J. Simms cil has pivoted from a plan to put the sta- talking about a community center and we Dutchess County. The tion in Memorial Park, and is now setting could be talking about parking. feasibility of partner- years old — has proven challenging. its sights on the Dutchess County building “All of those are structural facilities ing with the county is expected to be on an The most recent study commissioned at 223 Main St. that, if we put them on Main Street, we upcoming council workshop agenda. by the city in 2014 recommended a The council appeared in recent weeks to could share.” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 21,200-square-foot station at the city- have settled on the Memorial Park dog-run Kyriacou also pointed to the new Beacon urged county and local officials to share owned Cannon Practice Field at the cor- area and was scheduled to vote on May 15, Highway Department building on Camp resources as a means of reducing tax bur- ner of Verplanck Avenue and Matteawan but opted to table the decision after a num- Beacon Road as a facility whose out-of-the- dens.