(Rochester, N.Y.) - Attorney John Parrinello says he was present at a meeting that draws the Greece supervisor into the criminal investigation of the town's police department and its chief.
Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green said if true, it would make Parrinello, the lawyer for suspended Police Chief Merritt Rahn, a material witness in the case against his own client
Parrinello said early in 2002 he arranged a meeting in his office on Main Street in Rochester. In attendance were Gary Pignato and Greece Supervisor John Auberger.
Pignato was Parrinello's client when he sued the Rochester Police Department for firing him.Parrinello said he watched Auberger turn to Pignato and say, "I'm going to hire you because John Parrinello says I should."Pignato was eventually hired based on a false background check; Parrinello said the town supervisor was in on any deception.
In a written statement, Parrinello says Rahn never was involved in the background check. Even if his statements are true, that doesn't necessarily absolve Rahn of blame. Suspended Sgt. Robert Trowbridge, who has been charged with filing that false report, said his orders came from Rahn.Trowbridge's attorney Larry Kasperek said, "It raises questions over whether he was compelled or coerced into doing it; whether he was under some kind of threat or intimidation."Parrinello, is on vacation out of town and did not provide any proof of these allegations. Critics say he has motivation to deflect blame from his client. Parrinello said he'll address all of this when he returns to Rochester on Monday.Auberger Denies KnowledgeAt a news conference on Tuesday, Auberger sidestepped the issue of whether he had any influence on the hiring process saying that "it requires the approval of the Town Board."When asked, “Do you make a recommendation to the town board personally whether he should be hired or not?” Auberger said, "The town supervisor does have a vote."In a written statement, Parrinello says Merritt Rahn never was involved in the background check. A Greece spokesman said Auberger does not recall the any meeting with Parrinello and Pignato together.Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green said, "If [Parrinello] has information he should come in and we'd be more than happy to send investigators and document everything he has to say and follow up on it...I don’t want to start wild speculation. We’re looking for any information we can get.”
Background
Pignato was recently sentenced to several years in prison after being convicted on charges that he coerced women into having sex with him.
The internal investigation of the Greece police department began due to questions surrounding the department’s actions surrounding Pignato and another former officer Nick Joseph, who was also recently sentenced to prison after being convicted of charges stemming from a hit-and-run accident in August 2008.
Green’s office is also investigating the background check done on Joseph. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that when Joseph left the Rochester Police Department, he was being disciplined for allegedly altering information on a search warrant.
