Bethlehem

A former Albany County legislator and state union leader vented his frustration against his foes by allegedly dumping buckets of cat feces around their homes, police said.

Several Bethlehem residents had reported incidents of soiled cat litter being strewn on their properties over the past few years, and police recently began increasing their surveillance.

Howard A. Shafer, 70, was arrested at 4:40 a.m. Sunday when a police officer patrolling the neighborhood of one of the victims pulled over Shafer, who had containers of soiled cat litter in his pickup truck. He was charged with misdemeanor criminal tampering.

Shafer served in the Albany County Legislature from 2004-07 and was president of the state Public Employees Federation from 1991-94 when he worked as a financial analyst with the state Department of Health.

Bethlehem police officer Javier I. Martinez asked Shafer what he was doing on Trinity Place, a dead-end road in Selkirk two miles from Shafer's home.

"I'm a politician. I'm checking on my neighbors' homes, seeing what is going on," Shafer said, according to Bethlehem Town Court documents. Shafer said he had four cats and was dumping their dirty litter.

The officer said, "Howard, I wouldn't be asking you these questions if I didn't already know the answers. I see you have one empty cat litter box and one full one. Did you dump the cat litter in the cul de sac down the road?"

Shafer admitted he did, and told the officer he had done it once before.

Police have received reports of about two dozen incidents over the past several years, usually targeting the same residents. One victim, who asked not to be identified, said the deposits sometimes showed up weekly but, other times, months would pass between incidents.

Lt. Thomas Heffernan said the incidents and number of targeted homes increased recently. Police began watching the areas more closely.

One of the victims was a political opponent of Shafer and another said he had a political dispute with Shafer and had exchanged words with him.

Shafer serves on the Bethlehem Democratic Committee and is a former member of the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Board of Education. Cumberland Farms is listed as his employer on his arrest report.

Shafer could not be reached for comment.

In 2011, Shafer was expelled from the Selkirk Fire Department, where he served as treasurer, for conduct that a hearing officer described as "persistently, repeatedly, intentionally, willfully and incorrigibly insubordinate." Fire department officials said Shafer sent disruptive, unprofessional emails and did not return treasurer documents when he went on injury leave.

Shafer appealed the decision in the state Supreme Court's Appellate Division, but the court upheld the expulsion.

Shafer was issued a summons to appear in Bethlehem Town Court. Police said charges are pending.

ccrowley@timesunion.com • 518-454-5348 • @cathleencrowley