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North Country Gazette - Cheste
12 April 2007

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EDITORIAL: Abuse Of Power Unde

Men harassing women.

Never a good situation, particularly if you're a law enforcement officer using your position to do so on the highway or in a domestic violence situation.

Back in November, Terrance Revella of Dutchess County, a 30-year police veteran and Department of Environmental Conservation captain who served as the liaison between the NYS Office of Homeland Security and the New York City Office of Emergency Management, resigned after a state investigation found he had abused his position by harassing women drivers and then lying to investigators about the incidents.

According to the state Inspector General's office, Revella was using an unmarked police vehicle to make unwarranted traffic stops of women.

Throughout the United States, thousands of times a day, uniformed police officers use their powers to instill fear and submission into the populace. Sometimes they exercise their authority just for their own pleasure, to experience personal satisfaction, rendering a psychological high of their own perceived importance.

Exercising that authority when you're off-duty, out of jurisdiction or in violation of the law is police abuse, to coerce, harass, intimidate, arrest and assault residents of our communities. Police abuse poses a threat to the foundations of our democracy and serves to further attack and destroy public trust in government.

The police are empowered to serve and protect, not bully, intimidate and retaliate.

Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland has long been known for his alleged dislike for women which has led to several complaints against him and the county for sexual harassment and discrimination with the NYS Division of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He's also known for his childish actions and demeanor and use of office for retaliatory, vindictive purposes.

His most recent reported actions on the Adirondack Northway are wholly abusive of his law enforcement powers and in fact, are likely out of his jurisdiction to even act as an officer. According to reliable police sources, Cleveland has come under investigation by the New York State Police after a woman motorist filed a complaint about being the subject of a traffic stop on Northway in Saratoga County by a uniformed male operating an unmarked car. The woman said she was harassed and subjected to verbal abuse by the male but not ticketed because he claimed that she was only "doing 60 in the fast lane". The posted speed limit on the Northway is 65 mph but there is no law that says that you have to go 65 mph.

Shaken and concerned if the person was even a law enforcement officer, she took down the license plate of the unmarked car and filed a complaint with the State Police. It was determined that the operator of the car was none other than Larry Cleveland, Warren County sheriff.

Veteran officer Tpr. Tim Pratt of the Wilton barracks who is assigned to patrol the Northway, investigated the matter, brought the complaint to the attention of the sheriff's office where he met with Lt. Robert A. Smith, one of Cleveland's right-hand men, unit supervisor of the Marine Unit, convicted of driving while intoxicated which resulted in the death of Brant Lake man in 1989 while Smith was off-duty from the sheriff's department.

Why Smith handled the complaint on Cleveland rather than undersheriff Shane Ross is unknown. After reports nationwide of female motorists being stopped by unmarked vehicles being operated by people impersonating police officers which sometimes resulted in death and injury, on May 1, 1996, Governor George Pataki issued an Executive Order that prohibits the use of an unmarked police vehicle to make a traffic stop in connection with traffic violations.

Such would be applicable to all police officers in Warren County, including Warren County Sheriff Cleveland, but what's even more egregious in the situation at hand is that the incident reportedly occurred in Saratoga County where Larry Cleveland has absolutely no jurisdiction to act as a police officer in a traffic stop. Certainly a woman operating her vehicle five mph below the posted speed limit is not a substantial threat to public safety although we understand it may have frustrated Cleveland because he couldn't fly up the third or "fast" left lane of the Northway at his accustomed 85 to 90 mph.

In that she was not ticketed by Cleveland, probably because he didn't have any tickets on him, he reportedly didn't call any other police officer for assistance, he obviously can't claim that she was driving recklessly or that she may have been intoxicated to try to justify his improper behavior.

Cleveland's actions in this incident, when combined with his record of his prior conduct, raise particularly serious and troubling questions regarding his character, judgment and integrity and a lack of fitness for the position of Warren County Sheriff. What has emerged over the years involving Cleveland is a pattern of poor judgment and erratic, harassing behavior directed at private citizens, colleagues and his subordinates, and in particular women.

As a patrol officer, Cleveland's reckless operation of a patrol car resulted in the death of an innocent elderly female pedestrian and the maiming of a motorcycle rider in Lake George Village during a traffic pursuit for a speeding violation during the 80s. Shortly thereafter, he had another accident with a patrol car at The Glen, when State Police determined he had been traveling at approximately 140 mph with an unauthorized individual in the car when he struck another vehicle.

Should an unmarked car start flashing his lights or even use red and/or blue flashing lights to signal you to pull over, don't pull over on an empty side of the road. Instead, slow down, turn your hazard lights and go to the nearest gas station or other well-lit area where there are other people. While you risk being charged for failing to heed an officer's order, it's safer. If the person isn't in uniform or you're concerned if he or she is a law enforcement officer, ask to see photo ID, place a call to 911 to verify his or her identity, go to the nearest police station.

While it's doubtful that Warren County will take any action against Cleveland considering his title and Cleveland's known penchant for retaliation, certainly Tpr. Pratt and the State Police can ask for the matter to be investigated at a higher level. Tpr. Pratt was formerly stationed at the Chestertown barracks and has long been a "people's cop", courteous, kind, friendly, helpful and the embodiment of serving and protecting the public, looking out for their best interests and safety. We need more law enforcement officers the caliber of Tim Pratt.

Of course, Cleveland is also accountable to the voters of the county. Unfortunately, this type of demeanor and act by Cleveland is not an isolated incident but instead is typical of his ongoing abuse of power and position.

This is the individual who is said to do things "exactly right". Even Larry Cleveland is required to comply with the law and defying and intentionally violating an Executive Order is serious business. Not only is Larry Cleveland not legally qualified to be performing the duties of the office of sheriff, he isn't fit to do so.

Some of the higher echelon of the sheriff's department hammer people with strict compliance with the rules and laws. They should practice what they preach, especially when claiming to be the sheriff of the county.

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North Country Gazette - Cheste12 April 2007

EDITORIAL: Abuse Of Power Unde

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North Country Gazette - Cheste
12 April 2007