Staff reports

Mayor Lovely Warren's uncle issued a statement Thursday admitting he was stopped twice last week for speeding on the New York state Thruway — contradicting what Warren told the media earlier this week.

Reggie Hill, whom Warren hired as her security guard and driver, is being reprimanded, fined $50 by the city and placed on one-week unpaid suspension effective Monday.

PDF:Reggie Hill's letter to the deputy mayor

In his statement, Hill acknowledged he was stopped on the way down and again on the way back from Albany, escorting the mayor to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address Jan. 8. Both times, he said, he explained to the state trooper that he was on a security detail. Having worked security for three past governors while with New York State Police, Hill explained it was common practice to travel at a speed faster than other motorists.

The first time, he was allowed to proceed, he said. The second time, he was verbally reprimanded and told to slow down.

When asked about the incident earlier this week — specifically, if the traffic stop was on the way down or back from Albany — Warren said, "We were coming from." Asked then if they were similarly speeding on the way down, Warren said, "No. No, I don't think so."

The Albany Times-Union reported Monday that Hill was stopped going 97 mph on the way to Albany. Hill, through city spokeswoman Chris Christopher, had disputed the speed, but acknowledged it was something more than 80. Warren later reduced that estimate further, saying it was between 77 and 80 mph.

Christopher had shrugged off the suggestion of two stops Tuesday night, and Warren declined to answer questions on the matter Wednesday. She did not immediately respond to a voice mail seeking comment Thursday.

Hill's statement took the form of a letter to his supervisor, Deputy Mayor Leonard Redon. In it, Hill said: "When asked, in response to an inquiry by the Albany Times-Union if I had been stopped on the NYS Thruway, I responded simply and truthfully: yes. I take full responsibility for this occurrence and regret any embarrassment that it has caused to Mayor Warren."

The $50 fine came as a result of an unrelated rolling right turn on red violation.

Hill's statement also denied rumors that he had improperly obtained child safety seats for mayoral vehicles. "I purchased a child safety seat for the vehicle with my personal funds," Hill wrote.

In related events, the city's Civil Service Commission on Thursday authorized the new security positions, which now await state approval. Working with Hill is Caesar Carbonell, formerly with Eastman Kodak Co. corporate security. Hill and Carbonell's appointments are temporary, as the positions will be advertised and both will have to go through the formal application process, according to the city.

City Council has asked that the city's Ethics Board review the appointments to determine if the hiring was done in accordance with Civil Service Commission requirements and whether hiring Hill violates the city's anti-nepotism policy.