{"id":10351,"date":"2008-12-05T08:40:13","date_gmt":"2008-12-05T13:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/?p=10351"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:53:14","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:53:14","slug":"chief-kaz-cheap-apology-cheesy-chivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2008\/12\/05\/chief-kaz-cheap-apology-cheesy-chivalry\/","title":{"rendered":"Chief Kaz: cheap apology, cheesy chivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" <\/em>Schenectady’s Lesson for Civic Leaders<\/strong>: If a cop has the nickname “Sgt. Snow,” or even “Lt. Noriega,” don’t make him Chief of Police.<\/em><\/p>\n

unseen eyes —
\nan apology made
\nbehind dark shades<\/p>\n

…. by dagosan<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a> .. A<\/em><\/strong>fter years of tarnishing the reputation of the chronically-troubled Schenectady Police Department, its former police chief, Gregory Kaczmarek pled guilty on Tuesday to third degree criminal possession of cocaine (with intent to sell).\u00a0 Six years after he retired his position under a cloud, he’s heading for two years in prison, with his stepson looking at three years (and his stepdaughter already doing 6 years for another drug bust), while his wife will spend six months in the County jail.\u00a0 See, \u00a0“Ex-chief heading to prison<\/a>: Schenectady’s Gregory Kaczmarek admits to drug charge” (Albany Times Union<\/em>, Dec. 3, 2008); and “Kaz Family Plan<\/a>” (Carl Strock’s Freestyle Blog<\/em>, Dec. 2, 2008)<\/p>\n

The story is well-known here in Schenectady, but I thought I’d give it some space here at f\/k\/a<\/em>, as a civics lesson (or a shot of schadenfreude) for our readers, and because a little venting might help get the bad taste of Kaz’s career out of my mouth.\u00a0 The convictions are part of a larger drug case that has already sent almost two dozen participants to prison.\u00a0 Greg and Lisa Kaczmarek, who operated a pizza shop they called Capo di Pizza for a few years after he retired in 2002, were minor dealers and users.<\/p>\n

Here are excerpts from the Schenectady Gazette<\/em>\u2019s Kaczmarek Timeline<\/a>: that should give you a good idea of the odorific tale of Chief Kaz (and see \u201cKaczmarek: \u2018I sincerely apologize<\/a>\u2019\u201d (Schenectady Gazette<\/em>, December 2, 2008) [words in brackets are my filler explanations]:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Gregory Kaczmarek had a colorful career on the Schenectady police force, including a six-year tenure as chief, and spent much of that career dodging allegations of drug use.<\/p>\n

1975<\/strong> \u2014 Kaczmarek begins his career in law enforcement. Drug rumors would begin as early as five years later, when he is called \u201cSgt. Snow\u201d and \u201cLt. Noriega\u201d behind his back by some.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

September 1992<\/strong> \u2014 Kaczmarek rises to assistant chief in charge of the Field Services Bureau. He is in line for the chief\u2019s job, but is opposed as critics argue Kaczmarek is being pushed because he worked on Mayor Frank Duci\u2019s 1991 campaign. The police chief\u2019s position is abolished, but the move is later ruled illegal by the courts and the position is reinstated.<\/p>\n

June 19, 1996<\/strong> \u00ad\u2014 After 21 years on the force and years of whispers about drug use, Kaczmarek holds a news conference to deny those allegations. A week later he is appointed police chief by Mayor Al Jurczynski, one of those who had opposed Kaczmarek\u2019s appointment earlier. Jurczynski would say Kaczmarek, with hard work, could become \u201cperhaps the best chief in the history of the department.\u201d<\/p>\n

July 26, 2002<\/strong> \u2014 Kaczmarek offers his resignation after a turbulent six years that saw an FBI investigation [which has never been officially closed] lead to four officers being sent to prison. The retirement also came as he was stung by criticism for playing golf while out on sick leave with a bad back.<\/p>\n

Feb. 18, 2008<\/strong> \u2014 In [wiretapped] calls identified early on as being made by Lisa Kaczmarek with Gregory present, Lisa badgers [the drug ring-leader Terry] Kirkem for cocaine to celebrate Gregory\u2019s upcoming birthday. Those allegations also included an alleged offer by Gregory to pick up a shipment himself Feb. 18 and that he would \u201cflash his badge\u201d [if there were any problems from law enforcement].<\/p>\n

Feb. 20, 2008<\/strong> \u2014 On Gregory Kaczmarek\u2019s birthday, a $150,000 shipment of heroin and cocaine en route from Long Island is surreptitiously seized during a traffic stop by state police. Drug mule Misty Gallo frantically calls Kirkem after she discovers the drugs are gone. Kirkem calls Lisa Kaczmarek, asking for advice. Kirkem and Lisa and Gregory Kaczmarek meet that night at DiCarlo\u2019s, a topless bar on Central Avenue in Colonie. It was there that prosecutors alleged Gregory Kaczmarek told Kirkem he needed to move his stash houses and change telephone numbers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Call me a cynical old curmudgeon, but my disdain for Greg Kaczmarek got even deeper after seeing him and his lawyer, Thomas O’Hearn, on the steps of the Schenectady Courthouse on Tuesday (for a short video clip<\/a> with highlights, linked in the Sidebar of a Times Union<\/em> article).\u00a0\u00a0 Admittedly, as I confessed here<\/a>, courthouse-step statements by lawyers and arrested cops often give me agita. Here are some of my printable reactions to the Kaz and O’Hearn show:<\/p>\n