Lee Higgins

lhiggins2@lohud.com

A Ramapo councilman is calling for an investigation in the ex-chief's second job

An activist group is calling for a criminal probe

Ex-chief said his testimony under oath was "incorrect" regarding his security firm

Ramapo's ex-police chief, who had been the highest paid local public employee in the state, also ran a private security firm on the side, using town resources, a Journal News/lohud.com investigation has found.

Peter Brower, who raked in roughly $369,000 a year, used his Police Department secretary to prepare payroll for his private business, he testified in 2014. Brower also testified that he "possibly" used telephones in the Police Department for the job.

Asked by The Journal News whether he did a second job while working as police chief, Brower said, "That may or may not be so."

When asked again, he said, "That may or may not be so, but is there anything illegal about that?"

TOP PAY: Westchester, Ramapo salaries top statewide list

LEAVING IN STYLE: Br ower retires as one of highest-paid public servants

Brower testified under oath during a deposition in a gender-discrimination lawsuit brought by police Sgt. Margaret Sammarone that was dropped last year. During that deposition, he was asked about his job running security for Pierson Lakes, an exclusive gated community on more than 1,000 acres in Sloatsburg with multimillion-dollar homes.

His testimony raises questions about whether he did a second job on town time and whether the job in his department's jurisdiction created any conflicts with him carrying out his police duties. Ramapo police have jurisdiction over Pierson Lakes.

Told about the testimony by The Journal News, a town councilman who wasn't aware of the specifics of Brower's second job said he'd ask the town attorney to investigate. An activist with Preserve Ramapo, a political action group, is calling for a law-enforcement probe.

Brower, who retired in September after 45 years with the department, told The Journal News that his testimony about using the secretary to prepare payroll was "incorrect," but declined to clarify it. He no longer provides security for Pierson Lakes, the property management company said. On its website, the community on Sterling Mine Road says it's patrolled by security 24 hours a day.

"How did this matter come to your attention?" Brower repeatedly asked a reporter.

His former secretary, Renee Partridge, when reached by telephone at the Police Department, did not respond when asked a question about doing payroll for the security firm.

Brower was the highest-paid local government employee in New York, according to the Empire Center's 2015 "What They Make" report, which said it used pay data reported to the New York State and Local Retirement System between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015.

He refused to comment about his employment dates with the security company, whether he told the Town Board about it, whether he kept it separate from his police job and whether it had its own phone number.

Six years of Brower's financial disclosure forms obtained by The Journal News under the Freedom of Information Law list him as owner and president of the security business, Pierson Access Systems, since at least 2009. The business was registered with the state in 2007.

It's unclear how much he was paid for the second job because the town redacted information from the disclosure forms that would show his pay range, an apparent FOIL violation.

That's public information, said Bob Freeman, executive director of the state's Committee on Open Government.

"The notion is the public should have the ability to ascertain whether there may be either an actual or an appearance of a conflict of interest," he said.

Brower, who was chief for eight years, also wouldn't comment on his testimony that he votes in Ramapo, even though he lives in Clarkstown. Under state Election Law, to qualify to vote at an address, someone must intend to make it their permanent home.

Town Councilman Yitzchok Ullman said he'll ask Town Attorney Michael Klein to investigate.

“If there’s any improprieties, we will definitely report this to (Rockland County District Attorney) Tom Zugibe or the appropriate organization,” Ullman said.

Michael Castelluccio, an activist with Preserve Ramapo, is calling for a law-enforcement probe.

"I think it’s something, even though he’s now retired, that should be investigated,” Castelluccio said. “The taxpayers paid heavily for his services and he owed them an honest day’s work. There should be a formal investigation into whether or not any laws were broken, especially since he was the police chief of Ramapo. His salary was obscene.”

Salary, pension & overtime

Brower’s annual pension was recently calculated by the state Comptroller’s Office at $229,266 — the highest of any state pension for non-educators in the Lower Hudson Valley and the highest law-enforcement pension in the state.

The region’s previous highest pension, $223,223, went to Edward Stolzenberg, former president of the Westchester Medical Center. Peter Noonan, Clarkstown's former police chief, previously had the state's highest law-enforcement pension at $206,399.

Ramapo has recently been under scrutiny by federal law enforcement officials. Last month, town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and Aaron Troodler, the former executive director of the Ramapo Local Development Corp., were arrested on federal charges including wire fraud and conspiracy tied to the financing of the town's controversial baseball stadium and other projects.

They are also facing SEC violations, along with Klein, the town attorney, and Deputy Finance Director Nate Oberman.

St. Lawrence, who signed Brower's last contract in January 2014, declined to comment. The contract provided that Brower earn overtime at a rate of time-and-a-half and be paid a minimum of four overtime hours for any community events or town or village board meetings he attended. He was required to submit a form for all overtime worked.

His previous contract did not include the overtime clause.

The town did not respond to the portion of The Journal News' FOIL request seeking any overtime slips Brower submitted during a six-week period in 2014. The Journal News is continuing to seek those records.

Police Chief Brad Weidel, who previously worked under Brower, and was also sued in the gender-discrimination case, said he will only investigate Brower's second job if someone files a formal complaint with the Police Department. Weidel's salary is $225,000.

"If we get somebody with firsthand information ... where they believe there was misconduct, we will definitely investigate it," he said.

Laura Arshansky of Mahwah, N.J.-based Wilkin Management, which manages Pierson Lakes, said Brower “isn’t working for us anymore.”

“He had a business and we have nothing to do with the guards,” she said. “That’s his thing."

She referred further questions to Lucille Amato, president of the Pierson Lakes Homeowners Association. Amato did not respond to a phone message or email seeking comment.

The town of Ramapo has a population of more than 130,000 and its Police Department has roughly 120 officers.

The deposition

Brower was asked questions about where he votes and his security business at the beginning of his deposition.

Sammarone's lawyer, Jonathan Lovett, asked Brower why he votes in Ramapo, when he lives in Congers.

Brower said, "I have a home in Monsey," which is in Ramapo.

Lovett asked, "Where do you actually reside?"

Brower answered, "In Congers," which is in Clarkstown.

Brower testified that he didn't run a security business out of the Police Department.

Asked by Lovett whether he had a security firm, Brower said, "I think you have to define security for me." He described the business as a "concierge service."

"It's a private community, and I have individuals that announce guests that are coming to the community," he testified.

Brower testified that no members of the Police Department worked for his "concierge service," but he's used staff employed by the Police Department.

"Who?" Lovett asked.

"My confidential secretary," Brower responded.

Lovett asked, "And what have you had her do with respect to your private business?"

Brower responded, "She prepares payroll."

Lovett also asked, "Did you ever conduct any business with respect to the concierge service using telephones in the Police Department?"

"Possibly," Brower replied.

A New Jersey meeting

On September 16, 2014, Brower stopped by a Ringwood (New Jersey) Borough Council meeting to ask council members for help spreading the word about keeping all-terrain vehicles off the Pierson Lakes property, just over the state border. Brower declined to discuss that meeting with The Journal News and why he left the council with the telephone number for Ramapo police administration, not a number for the security business. He did identify himself as a police chief at the meeting, but was there to discuss a security issue.

"Well, I'm here tonight, really to ask for your help," he told the council, according to an audio clip of the meeting. "I provide security for Pierson Lakes Homeowners Association."

Brower asked council members to tell constituents to stay away from the property to avoid hefty fees when their ATVs are towed.

"Recently, we've been inundated with ATVs, motorcycles, off-road vehicles and, by the way, I employ nothing but retired police officers," he said.

"I've been up there for 11 years and about 28 to 30 residents there," he said. "And they don't ask for too much. They really don't. They really like to enjoy the serenity."

Brower told the council members they could telephone him at Police Headquarters.

"If I'm not there, my secretary answers, OK," he said.

Staff writer Jonathan Bandler contributed to this report.