The Journal News

Clarkstown's town attorney has denied accusations by the suspended police chief that the town had been issued subpoenas by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Lino Sciarretta issued a one-sentence statement refuting allegations leveled on social media by suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan, the Democratic candidate challenging town Supervisor George Hoehmann's re-election bid.

"No subpoenas by the attorney general have been received by the town as alleged by suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan,” Sciarretta wrote in an email.

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Hoehmann did not return numerous calls, emails and texts seeking comment and responses to further questions about the allegations.

Sullivan's post on his campaign's Facebook page added fuel to rumors that have been swirling on social media.

“By now most of us have heard the rumors that criminal subpoenas have been served on Clarkstown Town Hall by the New York state Attorney General’s Office. I can tell you from my own extremely reliable sources that this is in fact true,” Sullivan posted.

Sullivan could not be immediately reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office, said in an email that her office doesn't "comment on potential subpoenas."

Hoehmann and Sullivan have been at odds for more than a year, during which the supervisor and Town Board suspended Sullivan over more than three dozen disciplinary charges.

Sullivan, who remains suspended from his $273,000-a-year job, has denied the 41 charges against him.

He has maintained that Hoehmann was targeting him in retaliation for firing police Sgt. Michael Garvey, who helped bankroll Hoehmann’s successful campaign to oust former Supervisor Alex Gromack.

Hoehmann has denied that the charges against the chief were politically motivated.

After two disciplinary hearings that lasted months, the proceedings concluded in June.

Hearing officer Robert Ponzini issued his first set of recommendations to the Town Board that address 19 of the charges.

Ponzini recommended that Sullivan be found guilty of four misconduct counts related to use of his town-issued cellphone, and be suspended for 15 days without pay.

Ponzini has yet to issue his recommendations for the remaining charges addressed in the second hearing.

The Town Board will ultimately vote to accept or reject the recommendations.

It was unclear when the matter will come up for a vote; there is no required time frame under the Rockland Police Act.

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