Crime Scene

Following the lead of the New York State Senate, the Assembly has backed tougher drunken driving laws by creating a criminal charge of aggravated vehicular homicide for drunken drivers who kill people. The Senate adopted the measure. The bill awaits Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s signature before becoming law.

Even though the state already has a vehicular homicide statue on the books, proponents argue the new bill would strengthen state law and would carry a state prison sentence of up to 25 years … Read more of this entry »

Since April 29, we’ve spent a good deal of time reporting on and writing about the death of Rene Javier Perez, a homeless Guatemalan immigrant found dead on the side of Byram Lake Road in Bedford. The most recent was written by my colleague Bruce Golding and ran today. You can “read it here”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070624/NEWS02/706240356.

Few stories have gotten more reader commentary than the death of Rene Perez. There have been a variety of reasons for the discussion, but much of … Read more of this entry »

Want to become a New York State trooper?

Now’s your chance to become one of the gray-suited officers – at least in six months.

Applications are now available for the trooper examination on Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, 2008.

The state police also have an “Internet application system”:www.nytrooper.com allowing people to review information about the New York State Police and to easily register for the exam. The website permits the candidate to request a specific exam date and test … Read more of this entry »

The New York State Senate has created a criminal charge of aggravated vehicular homicide for drunken drivers who kill people. The measure has been sent to the state Assembly for consideration.

While the state already has vehicular homicide statue on the books, Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, said this bill would strengthen state law and would carry a state prison sentence of up to 25 years in prison. This crime would apply to criminals who kill someone in a drunk or … Read more of this entry »

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has signed into law tougher penalties against people involved in trafficking human beings for the sex trade and prostitution or indentured servitude.

The legislation, written with assistance from Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno as president of the state District Attorney’s Association, creates a felony for those who engage in sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The law also removes any ambiguity in existing law to assure that prosecutors can bring felony charges against those who run “Prostitution Tourismâ€? businesses.

And … Read more of this entry »

The packed courtroom in Delaware went silent yesterday as James Cooke Jr. was led in.  In a few moments he would hear the judge’s decision: should he die for the rape and strangulation of White Plains college student Lindsey Bonistall or spend the rest of his life in prison. 

He and his lawyers knew what was coming. Judge Jerome Herlihy had never gone against a jury recommendation in a death penalty case and Cooke’s jury was unanimous in favor of execution.

But as … Read more of this entry »

The Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Lodge of the New York State Fraternal Order of Police recently held its annual awards ceremony in Southeast in Putnam County.
The lodge was formed in honor of Driscoll, a Lake Carmel resident and New York City police officer who died on Sept. 11, 2001 while saving others at the World Trade Center.
Since its inception, the lodge has grown to one of the largest in the state, boasting several hundred members who are current and retired … Read more of this entry »