GREENE – Residents from the village of Greene filed into the tightly packed village office Monday night with hopes set on shedding more light into the suspension and subsequent resignation of former Greene Police Chief Steven Dutcher.
Following usual business matters at the first public monthly meeting since Dutcher's departure, residents were polled to address the village trustees regarding any issues that they have, and the matter of Dutcher's dismissal from the Village payroll quickly came to the fore.
“It looks political; is there any way you can tell us about the investigation... like how long it will last?' asked Village resident, Meryt Allmendinger.
In response, Village attorney Robert Larkin said, “Mr. Dutcher was a public service employee, as such he is entitled to complete privacy about his employment – this board cannot legally say a thing about his employment,” Larkin explained. “Secondly, (before) Mr. Dutcher resigned, a criminal investigation was initiated and that investigation is ongoing – where it's going to go, we (the board) do not know because we haven't been informed.”
Larkin, who represents the Village of Greene, went on to explain that the current investigation is out of the village's hands as it is being conducted by members of the New York State Police at this point.
Larkin also would clarify that the pending legal case is being handled by the Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen.
A press release issued by the Village of Greene indicates that on March 27, 2014 Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. appointed Mollen as Special District Attorney for both the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the case.
“While I have no doubt that the Chenango County District Attorney's office would have conducted the matter with complete professionalism, I felt I made an appropriate decision to appoint this matter outside of the county to ensure the procedural integrity of the proceeding,” said Revoir.
For now, the Greene Police Department remains without a chief as it has since the April 17 resignation of Dutcher following a more than month-long unpaid suspension.
The board will not begin the search for a new chief until the ongoing criminal investigation is concluded, despite Dutcher's attempt to rescind his resignation on April 28.
Mayor Phill Brown, Larkin and all other village trustees remained tight-lipped about the issue and offered no further comment into the matter as the investigation continues.
Village resident Bill Fowler said, “I hope that when this is all over, there can be some lessons taken forward so that our little town, our little village, doesn't look like a bunch of screw ups in the local media.”
Tension was palpable in the standing room only venue as several villagers yearned for more information and explanation from the board that failed to materialize.
Allmendinger indicated that “It's just very hard for us,” alluding to the mystery and lack of public information surrounding the matter. Allmendinger, like many others from Greene have had “nothing but professional experiences” with the small-town police chief, and will likely remain in the dark until the matter is settled.