WASHINGTONVILLE, N.Y. -- The Washingtonville mayor and board of trustees have charged Police Chief Stephen Bogert with two counts of misconduct, and suspended him without pay, pending a hearing later this month.
The chief has been on paid administrative leave since an investigation began last August, sparked by legal action taken against the village by three former police officers, including the previous police chief.
They said a routine investigation into a few trustees led them to being stonewalled and investigated themselves. That lead to Bogert's promotion to chief.
Village officials said they can't address specifics of the case until after the prosecution.
"They had made allegations that the chief of police and several trustees illegally conspired against them and because of their actions, the three police officers had resigned," said Kevin Hudson, Mayor of the Village of Washingtonville.
"Because we did not have the funds to challenge corrupt politics in Washingtonville. You investigate people in power in this town and do your job and you get pushed out the door," said Wayne Kirkpatrick, former Detective of the Washingtonville Police Dept.
The former officers said they want their names cleared and their jobs back. Additional charges against Bogert are possible but a special hearing officer will rule on the misconduct charges later this month.