Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
The Town of New Windsor Police Department arrested a man today in connection to the September 21, 2019 murder of 21-year old Chelsea Debidin that occurred at The Knox Village Apartments, 835 Blooming Grove Turnpike, New Windsor, New York. This arrest is a result of the ongoing investigation into this shooting incident by the New Windsor Police Department, along with the New York State Police, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the O.C. District Attorney’s Office and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.
New Windsor Police Chief Robert L. Doss stated, “The arrest of this coward is a result of our ongoing investigation into this shooting that has not stopped since the day it occurred. The multi-agency team of investigators assigned to this case deserve the credit for taking Mr. Rivera off the street today and it is a direct result of their hard work and tenacity. Chelsea has been in all our thoughts and prayers and I hope this arrest helps bring some closure to her amazing family.” Arrested today was: Carlos A. Rivera, 47 years old, of the City of Newburgh. He was charged with Murder 2nd Degree and Attempted Murder 2nd Degree, both Felonies. Rivera was arraigned this evening before Town Justice George J. Meyers and sent to Orange County Jail on no bail. He is scheduled back in New Windsor Town Court on Thursday, November 14, 2019 for further court action. This incident is still under active investigation and this case is NOT closed. Anyone that may know something about this incident is urged to call the New Windsor Police at (845)565-7000. Additional press releases will be distributed by the New Windsor Police Department when more information becomes available.
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
PRESS RELEASE
Police Arrest Man in Connection to Flag Pole Vandalism Incidents
This is a joint press release by New Windsor & Washingtonville Police Departments
Release Date – August 14, 2020:
The Town of New Windsor Police Department arrested a man today in connection with two flag poles being cut down in the Town of New Windsor. The first incident was reported on July 9th at a commercial strip mall on Windsor Highway and the second incident was reported at a cemetery on Erie Ave. on July 10th. Additionally, this same man was charged by the Village of Washingtonville Police Department for their July 8th incidents involving the cutting down of a flagpole at their 911 memorial and for vandalism to a church owned sign in their village.
Arrested was: Andre P. Narbonne, 40 years old, of the Town of New Windsor. He was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Mischief, second degree (class D felonies), 1 count of Criminal Mischief, third degree (class E felony) and 1 count of Criminal Mischief, fourth degree (class A misdemeanor). Mr. Narbonne was arraigned by New Windsor Town Justice George J. Meyers IV. Mr. Narbonne was released without bail due to the charges in this case being non-bail qualifying offenses under the new bail reform provisions of the law. Mr. Narbonne is scheduled appear in New Windsor Town Court on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. and in the Village of Washingtonville Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. for further court action.
Mr. Narbonne left the area for the State of Washington just after committing the crimes in New Windsor and this delayed his arrest until recently when he returned to New York.
New Windsor Police Chief Robert L. Doss commented on the two New Windsor incidents, “I am very proud of the New Windsor Police Officers that were able to identify Mr. Narbonne as the perpetrator of these crimes and I am very thankful to our Law Enforcement partners that assisted us in this investigation. These deeply disturbing incidents involving flag poles being cut down in New Windsor are disgraceful and offensive. The fact that both flag poles involved were proudly flying American flags when they were cut down just adds to the outrageousness of these crimes. Our country’s flag has been an inspiring symbol of democracy, justice and freedom for over 200 years. It is sickening to me that someone could do something like this while not caring about the sacrifices that have been suffered by those who have defended our freedom.”
Village of Washingtonville Police Chief Brian Zaccaro commented on the incidents that occurred in Washingtonville, “Today brings some closure from the unsettling incidents that were discovered in the Town of New Windsor and the Village of Washingtonville early this past July. This individual would have never expected that the damage he deliberately caused would have resulted in the mass outpouring from the community and the attention of the nation. While there is some negative publicity that law enforcement has been receiving lately, I want to point out that this arrest, is a perfect example of how different law enforcement agencies work closely together every single day to solve crimes. If it was not for the dedicated and professional men and women in our law enforcement agencies, crimes like these could easily go unsolved. But that did not happen here, we worked tirelessly and shared information with each other so we could bring closure to both our great communities. I am profoundly proud of the hard work that everyone did to bring someone to justice on these cases.”
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler stated, “Obviously, the deliberate defacing and destruction of flag-poles and property in areas set aside to remember the fallen heroes of September 11, 2001, and at places of religious worship is especially distressing to all in the community. I am deeply grateful for the hard-work, professionalism and cooperation that our local, state and federal law enforcement partners have shown in this investigation, which is emblematic of their overall untiring efforts to protect all Orange County’s residents and property.”
The Town of New Windsor Police Department and the Village of Washingtonville Police Department were assisted in this investigation by several partner Law Enforcement agencies. They include: the New York State Police, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the U.S. Marshall’s Service, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.
Anyone with additional information regarding these crimes can contact the New Windsor Police Department at (845)565-7000 or the Village of Washingtonville Police Department at (845)496-9123.
Photos: 1. Shows a subject standing next to a flagpole at a commercial strip mall on Windsor Highway in New Windsor as it is being cutting it down and the American Flag is seen coming down with it. 2. Shows the damaged flagpole at Washingtonville 911 Memorial and the writing left on pole
The New Windsor Police Department and the Village of Washingtonville Department will not be releasing the booking photograph of Mr. Narbonne due to it now being prohibited under New York Public Officers Law, Section 89, which was amended in mid-2019 to prohibit the release of booking photographs due to it being an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” unless it serves a Law Enforcement purpose.
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.
Police Arrest Man in Connection to Thefts from Motor Vehicles
Release Date – August 28, 2020:
The Town of New Windsor Police Department arrested a man today in connection to stealing property out of parked cars in the Town of New Windsor. The incidents all occurred during the overnight hours between the dates of August 11th and August 21st along Riley Road and Moores Hill Road. Additionally, all of the vehicles involved were unlocked and parked on driveways outside of houses when the thefts occurred.
Detective Kevin Moore arrested 46-year-old Michael J. Barilla of New Paltz, NY and charged him with Grand Larceny, 4th degree (E-Felony) and two counts of Petit Larceny (A-Misdemeanor). Mr. Barilla was issued an appearance ticket and released without bail, as per the bail reform law, to appear in the Town of New Windsor Criminal Court on September 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. before Town Justice Noreen Calderin.
This type of crime is easily preventable and the Police Department needs the public’s help in stopping it from occurring. The public is reminded to lock all car doors when parking a car and to also remove all valuables from the interior of the vehicle. This will eliminate the possibility of becoming a victim of this type of crime.
Anyone with additional information regarding these crimes can contact Detective Moore of the New Windsor Police Department at (845)565-7000.
The New Windsor Police Department will not be releasing the booking photograph in this case due to it now being prohibited under New York Public Officers Law, Section 89, which was amended in mid-2019 to prohibit the release of booking photographs due to it being an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”.
On February 8, 2021, Police Officer Christopher D. Deets retired from the Town police force. Officer Deets was recognized with a Service Achievement Award by Town Supervisor George J. Meyers III and Police Chief Robert L. Doss at a walk out ceremony. Supervisor Meyers stated, “Officer Deets is leaving the Police Department in a better place than when he found it and anytime you can say that, it means the officer did a good job. I wish the best for Officer Deets and his family”. Chief Doss stated, “Officer Deets has been awarded for saving 4 lives over the course of his career here. I think that says it all about his hard work and dedication to serving the community. I commend him for his service to the Town and we will miss him.” Also, on hand for the ceremony was Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Orange County Commissioner of Emergency Service Brendan Casey who recognized Officer Deets for his military service with the U.S. Army and his police service to the County.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #25-14 Issued on: July 3, 2025
NWPD Holds Awards Ceremony and Monument Dedication
New Windsor, NY - On July 2, 2025, the New Windsor Town Board recognized the 60th Anniversary of the town’s police department with an official resolution. Town Supervisor Stephen Bedetti said, “For 60 years, the New Windsor Police Department has exemplified unwavering dedication, professionalism, and service to our community. Their commitment to protecting our residents and upholding the values of justice and integrity has left an indelible mark on our town’s history. It’s an honor to recognize this milestone and the men and women who have served with distinction throughout the decades.”
This was the latest in a series of events held to recognize this milestone in the agency’s history. In May of this year, the Police Department, together with the Town Board, dedicated a monument outside Police Headquarters honoring all past teams serving in the department’s K-9 Unit. Additionally, department members gathered outside the police station for a group photo and a challenge coin was created in honor of the anniversary.
The New Windsor Police Department became a full-time law enforcement agency in 1965 after the growth of the town and its population necessitated the change in policing from constables to police officers.
During the 1960's the Town Board recognized the need to establish a full-time police department. The constables then became part-time police officers and were assisted by the auxiliary police. In 1961 former Chief Constable James W. Coriz was appointed Chief of Police and in 1965, Chief Coritz organized a full-time police department. The town’s first police car was purchased that year. As full-time officers were hired, the town secured a building on Ruscitti Road to use as Police Headquarters.
By 1970 the department had outgrown this building and moved into a store front in the Antonelli Building on Windsor Highway. Police Headquarters was later moved to the old Town Hall building at 244 Union Avenue. In 1976 Town Supervisor William Larkin relocated the Police Department to Building 708 at Stewart International Airport.
Chief Coritz continued to lead the department. He built up a staff of 20 full-time officers. He was also responsible for the creation of the first detective position in the department. He retired in 1982 after 30 years of dedicated service.
In 1982, Chief Coritz was succeeded by Sergeant Dominick D‘Egidio who remained in command until 1984. He retired in 1986 after serving as a full-time police officer for over 20 years. In 1984 Walter Koury was promoted to chief of the department.
In 1991 former New Windsor Police Sergeant George Green was the Town Supervisor. He and Chief Walter Koury were responsible for the development of the town's new Police/Court facility at 555 Union Avenue. The Police Department moved into its new headquarters in May of that year.
Chief Koury remained in command of the department until his retirement in 2004. He was succeeded by the following chiefs:
Michael Biasotti 2004-2015
Richard Hovey 2015-2018
Robert Doss 2018-2023
Chief Daniel Valeri is the current chief of the department. Commenting on the anniversary he stated, “As we celebrate 60 years of service, I am immensely proud of the enduring legacy of leadership, professionalism, and innovation that defines this department. From our earliest days to the present, we have embraced progress—adopting cutting-edge technology, advancing training, and building strong community relationships. But it is the unwavering dedication and pride of our personnel that truly sets us apart. Together, we honor the past, serve the present, and shape the future with integrity and purpose.”
The New Windsor Police Department has a proud history of excellence and professionalism. It has been a New York State Accredited Agency since 1996. Chief Koury and all chiefs following are graduates of the FBI National Academy. The department as grown to include up to 50 sworn members including eight detectives. Specialized units include a traffic safety unit, accident reconstruction unit, UAS unit, motorcycle unit, K-9 unit, bicycle patrol unit, community policing unit, firearms training unit, and an honor guard. Specially trained officers fulfill roles as drug recognition experts and a school safety officer.
The department’s communications division dispatches police, fire and EMS and are available 24 hours a day. They are staffed by nine full-time and six part-time dispatchers. Other non-sworn personnel include, one administrative assistant to the Chief of Police, two full-time and one part-time clerks who manage the department’s records and a part-time custodian who keeps the facilities in top shape.
This is a joint press release by the New Windsor Police Dept. and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Release Date – September 23, 2020: The Town of New Windsor Police Department arrested a man today following an ongoing investigation into a hit and run motor vehicle crash. The crash involved multiple parked cars in a parking lot off of State Route 300 in New Windsor and no one was injured in the crash. Immediately after receiving a report of the crash, New Windsor police officers located the motor vehicle that caused the accident and its operator several miles away after it had fled the scene. As part of their investigation, the officers found the vehicle’s operator to be in possession of substances that they believed to be illegal drugs. The vehicle operator identified himself as a police officer and he stated that he was in possession of the substances in his official capacity as a police officer. Further investigation determined that the driver did not legally possess the substances as part of his police authority and lab confirmation determined that the substances involved were in fact a quantity of cocaine and a hallucinogenic drug known as MDMA. Arrested was: Carlos Mendez, age 41 of Middletown, NY. Mr. Mendez is employed by the City of Newburgh Police Department as a Police Officer. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 4th degree (D-class felony), Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree (A-class misdemeanor), official misconduct (A-class misdemeanor) and leaving the scene of a property damage motor vehicle accident (traffic infraction). He was arraigned before Town Justice Noreen Calderin and released as required by state law with no bail and a mandatory appearance ticket to appear in town court on October 13, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. for further court action. New Windsor Police Chief Robert Doss stated, “Every police officer takes an oath of office when they are appointed to their position and when that oath is violated, it falls upon other police officers to hold the line and do what is right. That is exactly what happened in this case. No one is above the law, especially police officers. I commend the New Windsor police officers that investigated this complaint to its fullest extent and I would expect nothing less from them.” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler stated, “I thank the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their professionalism and diligence on this case. It is always disappointing when there is an allegation that a police officer has engaged in criminal conduct, and even more so when it is alleged that an officer has used his badge to attempt to hide from his crimes. No one is above the law. Thankfully, instances of police officers committing the types crimes alleged here are rare, particularly here in Orange County, where the vast majority of our police officers behave honorably and legally in risking their lives every day to keep our residents and property safe. When allegations of criminal police misconduct are made, they must be diligently investigated and acted upon.”
The New Windsor Police Department will not be releasing the booking photograph in this case due to it being prohibited under New York Public Officers Law, Section 89, which was amended in mid-2019 to prohibit the release of booking photographs due to it being an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”. 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.
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.
Jessica Lopez