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Clarkstown Refutes Ex-Chief Sullivan's Claims It's Been Issued Subpoenas

CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. -- As the rumor mill continues to swirl in the Town of Clarkstown about alleged misdeeds on several fronts, suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan is now claiming on his Facebook page that the town has been issued criminal subpoenas.

Clarkstown Police Chief Michael Sullivan

Clarkstown Police Chief Michael Sullivan

Photo Credit: Michael Sullivan Facebook

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"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. I will not say anymore as it has always been my policy as Chief of Police not to comment on other law enforcement agencies investigations," Sullivan recently posted.

But Town Attorney Lino Sciarretta said by email: "No subpoenas by the attorney general have been received by the town as alleged by suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan."

And, the Attorney's General's Office spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick said the office does not comment on "potential" subpoenas.

 Sullivan, who is challenging Town Supervisor George Hoehmann as a Democrat in November's election, did not return calls to comment on the issue.

The two men have been dueling since Hoehmann suspended the police chief over 41 disciplinary charges that range from deleting information from his cell phone to not suspending an officer when he was told to.

Sullivan, for his part, has maintained from the beginning that Hoehmann came into office gunning for the chief in retaliation for firing police Sgt. Michael Garvey, who helped bankroll Hoehmann’s campaign for supervisor.

The supervisor has denied that the charges throughout recent hearing on the charges against the chief. 

Two disciplinary hearings have been held, with the last concluding in June. Robert Ponzini, the hearing officer, has issued recommendations on the first 19 charges, but as of Friday, briefs had not been filed for allegations dealing with the remaining charges.

Ponzini found Sullivan guilty of four misconduct counts related to the use of his town-issued cell phone, with a suggested punishment of 15 days without pay.

Once he rules on the second set of charges, the recommendations will be sent to the Town Board who will make the final decision on Sullivan's fate.  The results could come in right in time for the election. 

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