Chief Michael Sullivan fired by Clarkstown Town Council

NEW CITY - The Clarkstown Town Council voted on Tuesday night to fire Police Chief Michael Sullivan, whose suspension last summer set in motion a drama that has divided the town and spilled over into the elections.

The board voted 3-2 to oust the embattled chief from his $273,000-a-year job following his suspension on dozens of disciplinary charges.

The vote was along party lines, with the Republican majority — Supervisor George Hoehmann and Council members Frank Borelli and John Noto — voting in favor of firing the veteran lawman, and Democrats Daniel Caprara and Stephanie Hausner voting against.

Hoehmann voted on the firing despite the role he played in advancing the charges against Sullivan and the fact that Sullivan, a Democrat, is seeking to oust him at the polls in November.

"The people of Clarkstown must have trust and confidence in those of us who serve them," Hoehmann stated at the meeting. "Chief Sullivan, you broke that trust with this board; you broke that trust with the men and women you commanded; and you broke that trust with the people of Clarkstown."

But Caprara and Hausner said the Rockland County Police Act of 1936 prohibited Hoehmann from casting a vote. Caprara called Hoehmann's vote to fire Sullivan part of his political vendetta.

Clarkstown Town Attorney Lino Sciarretta said the town's position on Hoehmann's vote will be clarified when Sullivan files an expected lawsuit.

Afterward, Vincent Toomey, the town's special labor council, said a 2012 resolution states that bringing the charges bars a town official from acting as the hearing officer, but does not prohibit that official from voting on the matter.

There were boos and catcalls from the audience of about 100 people — including Sullivan — when the decision was announced after council members emerged from an hourlong executive session.

"They got what they paid for," said Sullivan, adding that the police act prohibits those who proffer the charges and testify at a hearing from voting on the hearing officer's recommendation.

He confirmed that he's planning to file a legal action challenging his termination and will continue his campaign for supervisor.

New City resident Marge Hook blasted the GOP council members for their votes.

"I can't believe the three of you came up with this decision," Hook said. "George, you know in your heart you're not supposed to vote on this. You broke the law."

CLARKSTOWN: Hearing officer recommends firing Sullivan

Tuesday night was the council's first regular meeting since hearing officer Robert Ponzini issued recommendations calling for the firing on Sept. 5.

Ponzini found Sullivan guilty on 11 of 15 charges related to misusing Police Department communications for personal or unofficial use, disseminating information contained in a departmental record, misconduct, insubordination and incompetence, among other things.

Sullivan was suspended in July 2016 after Hoehmann leveled the first set of disciplinary charges against him, which later swelled to 41 charges.

The charges were argued during a pair of disciplinary hearings at Town Hall that took months to conclude.

Sullivan has called the case against him a political witch hunt. He maintained his suspension was related to his refusal to stop an investigation into ex-Clarkstown police officer Michael Garvey's political donations to a campaign fund that spent heavily to get Hoehmann elected in 2015.

Hoehmann has denied that the prosecution was politically motivated

In July, Ponzini issued his recommendations for the first round of disciplinary proceedings against the chief, which related to his town-issued cellphone. Although Ponzini ruled that Sullivan should be found guilty on a handful of those previous charges, he recommended a 15-day suspension without pay.

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