New Berlin Police Chief arrested for assault, placed on leave
SOUTH NEW BERLIN – The Town of New Berlin’s Chief of Police has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest Thursday morning over allegations that he assaulted a 42-year-old man.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office said Friday its deputies had arrested New Berlin’s police chief, Richard P. Kellar, 43, of Norwich, at around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 30 in the hamlet of South New Berlin. Kellar was charged with third degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly caused physical injury to another person.
Investigators said Kellar was not on duty at the time and have only identified the victim as a 42-year-old male.
Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said the Sheriff’s Office could not comment on an ongoing investigation and directed questions to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Joseph McBride confirmed he had asked Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan to appoint a special prosecutor and asked for a change of venue.
Sullivan assigned attorney Paul Tomkins of Binghamton to prosecute. He also moved the case from the Town of New Berlin’s jurisdiction to the Town of Norwich, where Town Justice David J. Evans will preside.
“Our office currently has several open cases with the New Berlin Police Department and I requested another prosecutor to be assigned to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I also requested a change of venue from New Berlin to another town to ensure that the judge, or anyone else handling the case, has no relationship with the parties involved,” McBride said.
New Berlin Town Supervisor Ross Iannello said the town had placed Kellar on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation.
“This is the normal procedure for this type of incident and does not imply guilt or innocence,” he said.
Iannello said the New Berlin Police had three other part-time officers who would temporarily take on additional responsibilities to meet coverage demands until the courts made a ruling.
Kellar was issued an appearance ticket Thursday night to appear in the Town of Norwich Court Nov. 6.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office said Friday its deputies had arrested New Berlin’s police chief, Richard P. Kellar, 43, of Norwich, at around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 30 in the hamlet of South New Berlin. Kellar was charged with third degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly caused physical injury to another person.
Investigators said Kellar was not on duty at the time and have only identified the victim as a 42-year-old male.
Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said the Sheriff’s Office could not comment on an ongoing investigation and directed questions to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Joseph McBride confirmed he had asked Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan to appoint a special prosecutor and asked for a change of venue.
Sullivan assigned attorney Paul Tomkins of Binghamton to prosecute. He also moved the case from the Town of New Berlin’s jurisdiction to the Town of Norwich, where Town Justice David J. Evans will preside.
“Our office currently has several open cases with the New Berlin Police Department and I requested another prosecutor to be assigned to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I also requested a change of venue from New Berlin to another town to ensure that the judge, or anyone else handling the case, has no relationship with the parties involved,” McBride said.
New Berlin Town Supervisor Ross Iannello said the town had placed Kellar on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation.
“This is the normal procedure for this type of incident and does not imply guilt or innocence,” he said.
Iannello said the New Berlin Police had three other part-time officers who would temporarily take on additional responsibilities to meet coverage demands until the courts made a ruling.
Kellar was issued an appearance ticket Thursday night to appear in the Town of Norwich Court Nov. 6.
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