Rochester, N.Y. -- Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green said his office will investigate how Greece police officers handled the crash involving fellow officer Nicholas Joseph.
Testimony at Joseph's trial revealed that sport utility vehicle Joseph had been driving wasn't taken into police custody until four days after the crash. Photographs were not taken at the scene, except by paramedics. Evidence was not collected at the scene, and measurements were not taken. All of that despite the fact the driver fled the scene.
“We will examine everything that happened,” District Attorney Mike Green said. “We will find out the truth about everything that happened. If we find evidence things were done that were improper or illegal there are courses of action for us to follow under the law to deal with those things.”
"Just to give you one example, look at the car. Why was the car not impounded that night? You’ve got evidence in the car, evidence that turns out to be crucial. It’s that type of thing that causes us concern," said Green.
“We don’t know too much, to be honest with you, about the investigation that night other than what we know from the criminal investigation,” said Greece Police Chief Merritt Rahn at a press conference Monday afternoon. Rahn said he welcomed the district attorney's investigation.
State police will also conduct an internal investigation into the officers' conduct. If officers violated any departmental policies, they could be disciplined or terminated.
Greece Police Sergeant Thomas Schamerhorn testified that he had determined the accident "wasn’t a serious one," which is why he did not order the cars to be impounded and did not take photos or measurements at the accident scene.
However, under cross examination, Schamerhorn testified he knew the injured Alexis Sharp was pregnant because he found prenatal vitamins in her purse. He also knew two people were taken to the hospital and that a third person--later identified as Nick Joseph--hit his head on the windshield hard enough to shatter the glass and leave blood.
"It tells me that the Greece police did not follow the proper procedure in this particular case," Doorley said after court testimony last week. "After presenting him with pictures of these cars, the fact that several ambulance rigs were there. They took these occupants, Alexis and Taran, away with lights and sirens to the hospital. His conclusion was that it was not a serious accident. I don’t understand it."
Because of the felony conviction, Joseph was immediately terminated. Rahn said under state law, Joseph will be eligible to receive his pension, which he estimates to be about $20,000 to $25,000 a year once Joseph turns 62.
