REMOTE SUPPORT
Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
On December 15, 2020, members of the New Windsor Police Department in partnership with the Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team, participated in the ‘Start by Believing Campaign’ by signing pledges to ‘start by believing’ anyone who tells them that they were raped or sexually assaulted. The New Windsor Police Department has long been a partner with the Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team. Members of the Police Department have received special training to investigate sexual crimes and continue to take any reports of these types of crimes very seriously.
If you need to report a sexual assault please contact the Police Department at (845)565-7000.
If you or someone you love is a survivor of sexual violence in need of support, contact Orange County Rape Crisis Team 24/7 by calling 311.
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.
(June 21,2021 - Goshen, New York) New Windsor Police Chief Robert L. Doss was part of a press conference held by Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to announce the arrest and guilty pleas of three individuals on felony charges in relation to the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) case. These individuals, as part of their pleas, will pay back the IDA $1.265 million dollars. This was a result of an investigation that began in New Windsor and was conducted collaboratively by New Windsor PD, the NYS Comptroller’s Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
See the below links for further details from the press conference.
https://www.orangecountygov.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1273
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/06/new-york-state-comptroller-dinapoli-statement-former-orange-county-ida-officials-guilty-plea?utm_source=comptroller%20message&utm_medium=state&utm_campaign=new%20york&utm_term=crime&utm_content=20210621
Photo 1: Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speaks as officials look on. Photo 2: New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli poses for a photo with Chief Doss and Detective Sergeant Christopher Sager. Photo 3: A presentation board with some of the findings of the investigation.
#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
Congratulations to New Windsor Police Officer Ryan Sussman who was recognized by Orange County Stop DWI for his outstanding enforcement efforts in the area of driving while intoxicated as well as driving with ability impaired by drugs for the year 2019.
On August 2, 2022 New York State Senator James Skoufis held a press conference in the Town of New Windsor to announce funding for select area police agencies to be used towards National Night Out events. The Town of New Windsor Police Department received $6,250. of this funding. Thank you Senator Skoukis!
Pictured are (L-R): Lt. Robert McLymore (Wallkill PD), Chief John Rader (Warwick PD), Chief Robert Doss, Supervisor George Meyers, Senator James Skoufis, Chief Paul Ricard (Mount Hope PD), and Lt Jeffrey Thoelen (Middletown PD).
Orange County News For Immediate Release Contact: Christopher Borek November 6, 2020 845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c
District Attorney Hoovler Announces Murder Charges
In Death of Missing City of Newburgh Woman
Man Indicted for Murdering 36-Year-Old Woman
Victim Missing Since November 3, 2019
Body of Victim Not Recovered
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Friday, November 6, 2020, that Matthew Mercado, 37, of Newburgh, was arraigned before Orange County Court Judge William L. DeProspo on charges including Murder in the Second Degree, in connection with the death of 36-year-old Jessica Lopez, a City of Newburgh woman who was last seen on November 3, 2019, at the Windsor Motel in the Town of New Windsor.
Mercado had previously been indicted on charges including Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 of the Windsor Motel on November 3, 2019, at about 1:35 AM, and stealing two bags from the three young woman who had been sleeping in the room at the time. Mercado has been continually incarcerated since his arrest on November 6, 2019, in connection with those charges. The District Attorney’s Office superseded that case in the Grand Jury and asked the Grand Jury to consider additional evidence concerning the disappearance of Jessica Lopez, who had been staying with Mercado in room 33 of the Windsor Motel the night of Saturday, November 2, 2019, into the morning of Sunday, November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury indicted Mercado for Murder in the Second Degree for intentionally killing Jessica Lopez in room 33 of the motel as Ms. Lopez was attempting to leave the motel at approximately 5:00 AM on November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury also indicted Mercado for a separate count of Murder in the Second Degree for having killed Ms. Lopez during the commission of a robbery or kidnapping of her. Robbery under the law is forcibly stealing property. Mercado is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for having stolen Ms. Lopez bank card and stealing approximately $1,500 from her account, most of which was taken out in ATM withdrawals starting at approximately 9:00 AM on November 3, 2019.
Mercado is also charged with three felony counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence. One count alleges that he removed Ms. Lopez’s body from room 33, placed her in the trunk of her car, drove the car to an unknown location and concealed the body. Another count alleges that he deleted text messages between her cellular telephone and his cellular telephone, messages that were sent at about 5:30 AM on November 3, 2019. The third count of Tampering with Physical Evidence alleges that he disposed of Ms. Lopez’s cellular telephone so it could not be used as evidence.
The Grand Jury indicted Mercado again for Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 and stealing bags from the three young woman, and added a charge of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree for Mercado having told the three young woman that he would not give their bags back and that he was an undercover police officer.
Bail was set in the amount of one-million dollars cash, or three-million dollars secured bond, or ten-million dollars partially secured bond. The case is next scheduled for a virtual conference in County Court on December 2, 2020. Mercado faces up to twenty-five years to life in state prison on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree and up to an additional fifteen years in state prison on the charge of Burglary in the Second Degree.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation and unceasing efforts in the case, as well as the many law enforcement agencies that aided in the investigation, including the Town of Newburgh Police Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, and the New York State Police, as well as the civilian volunteers who have searched for Jessica Lopez.
“By all accounts Jessica Lopez was a remarkable young woman and her loss is being severely felt by her family, friends, and many of her former students,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While recovering her remains will continue to be a high priority for us, we are fully prepared to litigate this case even without her body being recovered. Murder convictions without bodies are permissible under the law and in fact such convictions have occurred before here in Orange County. My heartfelt condolences go out to Ms. Lopez’s family, and my office will do everything in our power to see that the person responsible for her death faces just punishment.”
Chief Robert Doss of the Town of New Windsor Police Department said, “I would like to thank every member of the New Windsor Police Department that worked so diligently on this investigation. It is because of their hard work, along with the assistance of all the other police agencies, that made a difference in this case. I also want to thank District Attorney David Hoovler and his staff for their unwavering support through the process. We will never forget the family of Jessica Lopez, who have been without her in their lives for over a year now. Her mother, father and brother, all live with the constant pain of her loss. I speak for every member of Law Enforcement that worked on this investigation when I say that we stand with them and we will continue to fight for Jessica every day until justice is brought in this case. Our hearts go out to her family and we will continue to pray for them. It is my hope that the news of this indictment will at least begin the process of closure to Jessica’s family and everyone that knew her.”
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jessica Lopez