New Windsor’s Deputy Police Chief Michael Farbent retired Friday after 37-years of service to the town.  Deputy Chief Farbent, an FBI National Academy graduate, held many ranks within the police department over his career including: Sergeant, Lieutenant and Deputy Chief.   In August of 2018, he became just the second Deputy Police Chief in the long history of the Police Department.   He was also a K-9 handler for 7 years and the Police Academy Director of the Orange County Police Chiefs Association’s Police Academy for 1 year.  In 1999, Deputy Chief Farbent was awarded as ‘Officer of the Year’ after locating and pursuing a vehicle and its two occupants who had just fled the scene of an armed robbery at Cowan’s Jewelers.  His actions resulted in the arrest of the occupants, who were armed with two loaded handguns.   

Town Supervisor George Meyers stated, “That during Deputy Chief Farbent’s 37-year career he has made major contributions to the current professionalism of the Town of New Windsor Police Department.”

Chief Doss added, “Deputy Chief Farbent will be greatly missed by everyone at the Police Department.  Throughout his entire career, he was always a well-respected Officer that was known for his intelligence and his knowledge of police practices.  His presence and leadership as a long-standing member of the police department’s administration has been invaluable, not only to me but to the entire community.  I know I will personally miss his input in the day to day operations of the department.  I wish him the very best in retirement, he certainly earned it.”

On March 4, 2022, Police Officer Jeremy Arcaro was promoted to the rank of Identification Officer. As Identification Officer his primary responsibility is for the collection, preservation, security of physical evidence collected at crime scenes. Congratulations to Identification Officer Arcaro!

On March 4, 2022, the Town held a ceremony to recognize the retirement of K9 Sato from the Police Department.  K9 Sato’s handler, PO Brian McLean, received a plaque and certificate from Supervisor Meyers recognizing the accomplishments of the K9 team over the past 8-years. 

We wish K9 Sato the best in his retirement and we thank him for his service to the Town. 

Pictured in the group photo from Left to right are: Lt Fayo, Police Chief Doss, PO McLean, Supervisor Meyers, Deputy Chief Farbent, Lt Valeri and Town Justice Meyers.

Today the Police Department held a ceremony to recognize Deacon Anthony Ferraiuolo for his seven years of support to the department as one of our police chaplains. We truly appreciate the spiritual and emotional support he provides whenever it is needed.

Pictured from left to right are: Deputy Chief Farbent, Police Chief Doss, Deacon Ferraiuolo, Supervisor Meyers, Lt Valeri and Town Justice Meyers.

The New Windsor Police Department recently became the first and only police agency in Orange County to participate in New York’s Mobile Access Program (MAP) for use on mental health related calls.

Funded through the New York State Senate and in cooperation with the New York State Office of Mental Health, this program equips select NY Police Departments and local Mental Health clinicians with iPads to utilize Zoom type teleconference calls for mental healthcare purposes. The program provides another option for Police Officers to have when they require some assistance in evaluating a situation when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. The 3 iPads we received use a HIPAA compliant teleconferencing software for mental health consultations. The primary goal of the MAP program is to increase police access to timely mental health consultations and evaluations which should result in less waiting for a mental health professional to respond to the scene, less transports by the police to the hospital and for better planning for follow-up care of the individual involved.

The New Windsor Police Department responded to 298 mental health crisis calls in 2021. Additionally, every sworn-member of the New Windsor Police Department has received special training in how to best manage a situation when an individual is in mental health crisis.

Shown in the photo are: Don Kamin, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Police, Mental Health & Community Collaboration, Deb Salamone, Project Coordinator for MAP and Sgt. Christopher Sylvester.

A BIG thank you to New Windsor American Legion Post 1796!  They generously donated 33 plastic bins containing an assortment of small toys.  The plan is to place a bin in each one of our police cars for times when we need a toy to give to a child that is emotionally upset or is experiencing some anxiety.  The hope is that by offering the child a toy, it will help to calm them and ease their anxiety.  This will also help foster a positive interaction between the child and the Police Officer. 

A special thank you to NW American Legion Post 1796 Commander Joe Pifer and his wife Maria, NW Sons of the American Legion Post 1796 Squadron Commander Bob McCormick, NW American Legion Aux Post 1796 President Lisa VanNostrand, and Town Councilwoman Sylvia Santiago who helped coordinate this all to happen.  

Sgt. William H. Ruger Jr. retirement walk-out and presentation ceremony. Thank you for your 34-years of service to the town. Enjoy your retirement, you earned it.

On December 5, 2001, Nancy Smith, a 32-year-old resident was found deceased in her house on Provost Drive in New Windsor. On that day, Smith’s parents received a call from her office saying that Smith had not shown up to work at the Horton Hospital in Middletown. Concerned, they went to check on Smith at her New Windsor home on Provost Drive, where they found her deceased on the living room floor. Nancy’s death was the result of a vicious attack and the investigation into her murder began.

As the 20th Anniversary of Nancy’s death approaches, the detectives from New Windsor Police Department are, once again, asking for the community’s assistance in identifying Nancy’s killer. To date, over 900 investigative leads have been pursued by members of the NWPD, New York State Police, Orange County District Attorney’s Office and several other Local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies. Over the last few years, detectives have re-examined evidence in this case, re-interviewed witnesses, friends, family members, co-workers and other persons from Nancy’s life. Representatives from both public criminal and private DNA laboratories have been consulted, seeking the latest testing methods and technologies available. So far, we have been unable to identify the perpetrator.

The New Windsor Police Department would like to encourage members of the community to call us with any information they may have about this murder. Any piece of information would help, no matter how small or insignificant a person may feel their information would be. For 20 years, investigators and family members have been trying to find the missing pieces to the puzzle for this crime. There is still a reward of $20,000 being offered, for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person(s) responsible for Nancy’s death.

Investigators working this investigation can be reached at 845-563-4657 or by email at [email protected].

A Service Achievement Award was presented to Police Officer Brian McLean in recognition of his 25-years of dedicated service to the Town of New Windsor Police Department. Chief Doss and Supervisor Meyers did the presentation.

Congratulations to Officer McLean and thank you for your service to the community!

#REPOST from Vails Gate Steam Academy – Newburgh Central School District

Our Senior Gators listen attentively as PO Arcaro from the NWPD shares anti-bullying and internet safety information. The men and women of NWPD are always ready to #ShoulderUp with us and we are thankful for their dedication and service. #NWPD #VGSA 🐊❤️ 

@newburghschools