Troy, NY Police Chief Wants Zero Tolerance Policy for Brutality, Called for FBI Probe Into Internal Affairs; Internal Affairs Investigating Him

John Tedesco, the police chief in Troy, New York,
was interviewed this week by internal affairs over allegedly
upholding a citizens complaint about brutality too soon. Tedesco
has also called for investigations by the city council, as well as
an FBI probe, into his department’s internal affairs division. Via

the Albany Times-Union:

Deputy Chief Richard McAvoy and Capt. Terrance Buchanan
of internal affairs met with Tedesco for about 30 minutes in an
office that was cordoned off.

Tedesco had said the media were invited to attend his interview,
but no reporters were present.

The chief faces the investigation after a complaint was filed
saying that the letter he sent [upholding a citizens’ complaint]
was written before the officer under investigation had exhausted
the appeals process.

Tedesco’s questioning came as city officials learned that the chief
asked the City Council to investigate the police department’s
operations and internal affairs unit under Police Commissioner
Anthony Magnetto.

Tadesco’s attorney claimed in a letter that Buchanan was biased
in favor of the local PBA, which opposes Tadesco, because they
employ him off-hours. The attorney, who in an eight-page letter
called for an inquiry into the internal affairs department, also
said the police chief “firmly believes that a zero-tolerance policy
against egregious misconduct must be strictly enforced to prevent
future incidents of brutality and that his other ‘best practices’
and policies must be reinstated for effective and efficient
management of the Police Bureau.

The City Council appointed Magnetto police commissioner in
February, while Tadesco was away for training. His wife blasted the
council for appointing Magnetto, and the PBA president made
comments about the police chief that illuminate some of the source
of the conflict. Via
the Record of Troy:

Police Benevolent Association President Bob Fitzgerald…
criticized Tedesco for his decision to deactivate the Emergency
Response Team, listing the various instances it’s been called upon
for assistance not just in the city but surrounding municipalities.
Fitzgerald also critiqued Tedesco’s decision to take officers off
U.S. Marshals detail and also taking school resource officers out
of the schools, even going as far to suggest the 14-year-old girl
who leaped off the top of Lansingburgh Middle School was looking
for the officer before she jumped.

“The Troy PBA members respect Anthony Magnetto and know his
experience will lead to success in the department,” Fitzgerald
said. “He ingrained in our minds early on, go out and do your job
and don’t embarrass this department.”

Tedesco was also
interviewed by the FBI this morning, which he said he
welcomed.