As Scandal Continues, NY State Police Chief Resigns

NY State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt has stepped down from his position as the scandal surrounding the alleged abuse by a Paterson top aide continues to grow. Governor Paterson and members of the State Police security detail assigned to protect him have been accused of pressuring an alleged domestic violence victim into dropping her legal action against the aide, David Johnson. Of course, yesterday Corbitt partly blamed the media glare for his departure, "It’s very difficult, but when your character is being attacked every day and you really don’t have a recourse to defend yourself. Any individual who is criticized constantly feels that pain. And in most cases there is some way to fight back. But in public service there is not. I’m not an elected official, I’m a public servant, I’m a cop. A good cop."

He added, "So to continue to face that pressure, and even pressure from my family - the media showing up in my driveway - that’s unacceptable. So for my own health and for my own sanity it’s the right thing to do." And Corbitt said to NY1's sister station, "The real reason that I am retiring is two fold -- working as a superintendent in the office of superintendent there needs to be this public perception that the person serving in that position is trustworthy and forthright and has the best interests of the citizens of the State of New York in mind. This media firestorm has really destroyed my ability to function in that capacity."

Corbitt admitted to the NY Times that state troopers did contact the girlfriend of Paterson aide David Johnson, after she called police to say Johnson had assaulted her on Halloween of last year. Corbitt claimed that it was routine for state troopers to be involved in a case that "might attract media attention," but others say that's untrue.

Last week, Denise O'Donnell, who oversaw the State Police, resigned claiming that Corbitt misled her about the State Police's role in the incident, "The fact that the Governor and members of the State Police have acknowledged direct contact with a woman who had filed for an order of protection against a senior member of the Governor's staff is a very serious matter. These actions are unacceptable regardless of their intent."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 3, 2010 12:18 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Dear NYS: Quit being Alabama. Thank you.

Spirit of 76

At this rate, everybody in the current administration will resign except for Governor "I'm not going anywhere."

Dirk

Corbitt falling on his sword won't be enough to save Paterson.

JenChungsBaby

The more the merrier. Keep the hits coming!

BklynsFinest

I'm starting to think Paterson is actual Cuomo in a rubber mask. Who else has been more effective at dismantling the current government? It's all gonna end with a defiant "Paterson" at top the Empire State Building and midnight. Just as a puff of smoke is a release the Cuomo will toss the already dead body of the Gov off the building and will all assume it to be the natural progression of events. Somebody in the crowd at the corner of 34th and 5th will say "why?" and then Andrew C. will casually step from the throng saying it's time to move on and we will.

jaycjay

"Corbitt claimed that it was routine for state troopers to be involved in a case that "might attract media attention," but others say that's untrue."

Ridiculous. If it is true that such action was "routine," that only opens a bigger question: why was it routine?

What possible public interest is served by the state police contacting someone who has filed a complaint against a high-profile individual in a jurisdiction other than their own? How could that do anything other than corrupt the system as it is supposed to work?

The fact is that if such contact really is policy, that's a bigger scandal than if it was a one-time aberration. And what we should know than is: who formulated this policy?

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

I'm sure that it has been done in the past by other governors but without the media scrutiny. I mean didn't the FBI keep tabs on the presidents' mistresses. Is that under their domain?

Mr Mel

You paid a heavy price, Bro.

ides_of_march

The Cuomo machine is really busy lately.

dadoc

Response to Corbitt:

You can't deal with some media crit, you're not fit for the job.

You're not a public servant, you're a flunky.

You're not a cop, you're a flunky.

You're not a good cop, you're not even a good flunky.

You've never been trustworthy or forthright.

You didn't function, you flunkied.

You never upheld the best interests of the citizens of NY, you upheld your own.

Concerned about the attack on your character? Man up.

You got caught in a witness intimidation situation.

If you're right, fight it.

Who issued the order, where is the policy?

Where is your self-respect?

If it were your daughter, would yo do the same?

Read it, Corbitt: You're a tool and a coward.