Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
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.
New Windsor Police Officer Steven Bohr recently attended a two-week police training course to certify him to safely and efficiently operate a police motorcycle. The course was held by the City of Yonkers Police Department in Yonkers, New York. The class consisted of 20 police officers from several different police agencies in Westchester, Dutchess, Suffolk and Orange Counties, as well as one officer from a Connecticut agency. This highly demanding and rigorous course of instruction consisted of both classroom training and extensive riding through closed obstacle courses and on public roadways.
Officer Steven Bohr received the ‘Top Gun’ award for being the best motorcycle rider in the class. Officer Bohr is the first officer to be added to the Town of New Windsor Motor Unit in over 10 years. The Motor Unit was formed in 1995 and currently consists of three police motorcycles.
The photo shows Officer Bohr receiving the ‘Top Gun’ award at the graduation ceremony held on September 25, 2020 in Yonkers, NY.
PRESS RELEASE
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”.
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 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.
Jessica Lopez, also known as Yessica Lopez, was reported missing to the City of Newburgh Police Department on November 3, 2019. Investigation into her whereabouts has now shown that the last place she was seen was the Windsor Motel on Rt 9W in the Town of New Windsor in the early morning hours of November 3, 2019. Ms. Lopez has not been heard from since and she is missing under suspicious circumstances.
Ms. Lopez’s silver 2005 Toyota Camry, NY Registration JDC9597, has been located by police at Showtime Cinema on Rt 300 in the Town of Newburgh, as previously reported. Police are now asking for the community’s help in determining where her vehicle traveled on Sunday, November 3, 2019 before it was parked at Showtime Cinema. Anyone having seen Ms. Lopez’s vehicle (see photos) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on November 3, 2019 is asked to contact police at (845)565-7000. We are also urging local businesses and homeowners to review their security camera footage during this timeframe to see if her vehicle happens to be captured on video. The Town of New Windsor Police Department is now the lead agency investigating this missing person report. Since taking over the investigation, police investigators have followed up on over 200 leads. In addition to following up on leads, over the past several days an extensive ground search has been undertaken in the Northern New Windsor area including areas in the City and Town of Newburgh. Assisting the New Windsor Police in this investigation is: The New York State Police, Town & City of Newburgh Police Departments, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, New York State DEC Police and Forest Rangers, DEA, Orange & Putnam County Sheriff’s Offices, Westchester County Police Dept., and the Ramapo Search & Rescue. This matter is still under active investigation and police are continuing to follow up on several leads. Anyone that may know something about Ms. Lopez’s whereabouts is urged to call the New Windsor Police immediately at (845)565-7000. Additional press releases will be distributed by the New Windsor Police Department when more information becomes available. See vehicle photos provided. Thank you.
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.
Police assist first person into ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ program for treatment
Release Date – August 12, 2020:
The Town of New Windsor Police Department assisted its first person into the Hope Not Handcuffs program today, just more than a week after the program went live with the department. The person heard about the program and walked into to the Police Department lobby looking for help with his drug addiction. He was soon greeted by Officer Anthony Weed and Officer Brian Levy, who began the first steps in the process with him. As part of the program, the Officers contacted a volunteer ‘angel’ to respond to the police station to complete the process of locating a treatment facility for the individual.
Police Chief Robert Doss stated, “It is my hope that this is just the first of many people who will come to the Police Department for help with their addictions. We all know that there are several people in our community that are battling with addiction related issues every day. I want people to understand that we are here to help and to assist them in any way possible. It is a huge moment in a person’s life when they finally decide that they just can’t live a certain way anymore and they decide to do something about it. This program works but it can only work with community trust in the Police Department. This man trusted us when he had nowhere else to turn and we were able to help him begin his journey to recovery. It is truly a wonderful thing to be able to help people in this way.”
Photo: Officer Brian Levy (L) and Officer Anthony Weed (R) stand near the new Hope Not Handcuffs sign at Police Headquarters
The Hope Not Handcuffs organization works with local law enforcement agencies to provide support. A person struggling with any addiction can voluntarily walk in to a participating Police Department, like in New Windsor, and ask for help. They will be greeted with support, compassion and respect. A trained Angel volunteer will be called to the station to help find treatment. The Hope Not Handcuffs program is a community outreach program designed to reach people struggling with drug addiction to encourage them to seek recovery and regain control of their lives. It is community members taking care of community members.