(Greece, N.Y.) -- A grand jury began meeting Monday to take a closer look at how the Greece Police Department handled cases involving two officers, including the case of former Sgt. Nick Joseph, who was convicted of hit and run after a cocaine-fueled crash.
Sources say Greece Police received a subpoena for hundreds of documents dating back almost ten years.
According to sources close to the investigation, Greece Police Chief Merritt Rahn went to police headquarters Saturday morning after 7 a.m.
It is alleged he joined Deputy Chief William Mackin and Sgt. Brian Ball behind locked doors and that, for the next four hours, the men shredded documents.
An employee who heard the commotion, recognized the sound of the shredder, and called State Police.
Sources say bags of shredded documents were left behind in the office.
All three men were suspended with pay. Attorneys say the suspension with pay is to protect taxpayers legally if the investigation does not lead to misconduct charges. Taxpayers will continue to pay upwards of $1,200 per day in salaries while the investigation continues.
Attorney John Parrinello met privately with Chief Rahn and questions motive in this case, calling it "a witch hunt."
Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green says he had nothing to do with that decision.
Greece Town Supervisor John Auberger said, "What came to light on Saturday was some issue in regards to headquarters, and I became aware of them, and to not impede the investigation and carry on with the credible investigation, we needed to do what we did."
While Green continues with a criminal investigation, Greece has hired a new public safety director, Joseph Loszynski, a retired State Police deputy superintendent, to conduct an internal probe.
He is expected to outline his investigation Tuesday.
