(Greece, N.Y.) - The new Public Safety Director of the Town of Greece, Joseph Loszynski, has vowed to investigate scandals and clean up the police department.
Loszynski was hired before last weekend's suspension of Police Chief Merritt Rahn and was charged with the task of conducting an internal investigation of the department. He now says it is a top priority to look into the incident involving documents that were shredded at police headquarters Saturday.
He said a big question is, "Does it border on criminal culpability, and if it does…make a decision whether to turn it over to the DA's office."
Loszynski will conduct an internal investigation of the Greece Police Department's handling of several recent high profile cases involving its own officers. Those include the hit-and-run case of former Sgt. Nick Joseph and the sexual bribery case involving suspended Officer Gary Pignato.
Loszynski said, "I have the authority to go into the P.D. unannounced, to go into any file and retrieve any records pertinent to the investigation."
In his 33-year career with the state police in internal affairs, Loszynski, who has impeccable credentials, has conducted hundreds of internal investigations.
He said he doesn't know what was actually shredded, but did say, "I'm very concerned about the events of Saturday."
In his first 48 hours on the job he has secured files at Greece Police headquarters and confirmed that investigators will try to reconstruct four garbage bags of document scraps.
“I can guarantee you there will not be a rock left unturned when we leave the Town of Greece," he said.
He also said there is no legitimate reason Police Chief Merritt Rahn and two of his top men would have for shredding police reports.
Loszynski has already met with District Attorney Mike Green. Any evidence of criminal conduct will be turned over to the grand jury case already underway. That case centers on the Chief Rahn and five others.
Greece Supervisor John Auberger would not say whether Rahn will return as chief. "I think it’s too early to decide that. I think we have to wait for the internal investigation to be completed."
When Loszynski’s investigation is complete, officers, including those at the top, could be disciplined or fired or face criminal charges.
He's also been asked to look at policies and recommend changes.
