New Windsor Police Department recognized Dispatcher Jill Nye today for completing 20-years of dedicated service to the town. Police Chief Robert L. Doss stated, “Congratulations to Dispatcher Nye for this career achievement. Our dispatchers are often the unsung heroes of the Police Department. They are the ones who answer the phone in a calm voice and get the necessary information to be able to send the proper emergency responders quickly to where they need to be. Here in New Windsor, our dispatchers not only dispatch the police but they also dispatch the ambulance corps and the fire departments if needed. Dispatcher Nye has helped countless people over the course of her career and I commend her for always doing such a great job.”

On January 8, 2021 New Windsor Police Officer Joseph Bell and K-9 Duke graduated from the Narcotics Detection School that was hosted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The 8-week school was a hands-on training with the Officer and the K-9 where they are instructed in how to seek out and find Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamines and Ecstasy.  The school also included basic obedience and was conducted under all different environments in order to prepare the dog for real world encounters. 

This will be Officer Joseph Bell’s first time assigned to a K-9 Unit. He brings over 15 years of experience as a Police Officer with him to this detail.
 

The New Windsor Police Department has concluded its investigation into the cause of the October 21, 2020 fatal three vehicle collision involving a Washingtonville Central School District bus, a commercial tree service truck and a BMW sedan. The two-month long investigation determined that the commercial tree service truck, operated by Ian K. Jennings, crossed over the double yellow line and entered the oncoming Eastbound lane of traffic causing the collision with the school bus and the sedan.

Toxicology results from the New York State Police lab determined that alcohol and drugs were not a contributing factor in this collision. Accident reconstruction investigators were able to rule out excessive speed as well as any type of mechanical failure on the part of the commercial tree service truck. Investigators also determined that Mr. Jennings was not using his cellular phone nor did he suffer any type of medical event just prior to the collision.

Ian K. Jennings, 25 years old from Grahamsville, New York was cited for two violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law which include failure to keep right (section 1120A) and failure to wear a seatbelt (section 1229). He was given a court date of February 2, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. before New Windsor Town Justice George J. Meyers IV.

Chief of Police Robert L. Doss commented on the investigation, “As a result of our investigation, it was determined we do not have evidence to support any criminal charges in this case. It comes down to this being a case of a driver that was inattentive behind the wheel. Whether Mr. Jennings was drowsy or distracted by something in or around the vehicle he was operating we will never know. Mr. Jennings received two traffic summonses for his role in this horrific collision that unfortunately took the life of Andrew Sanchez and seriously injured a six-year old girl. In a matter of just a few seconds, so many lives were changed forever. The family and friends of Mr. Sanchez suffer his loss every day and the Washingtonville Central School District lost a very special employee. I want to thank the New York State Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.”

District Attorney David M. Hoovler stated, “I commend the Town of New Windsor Police Department and the New York State Police for their diligence and thoroughness in this investigation. The tragic consequences of this collision are no doubt most keenly felt by the family and friends of the deceased, the severely injured six-year old girl and her family and friends. The whole community is saddened by their loss. Although there was no finding of criminal liability in this case, my office has assigned an experienced assistant district attorney to prosecute the traffic summonses which were issued.”

Media Contact: Deputy Chief Michael Farbent - mfarbent@newwindsor-ny-gov
 

The New Windsor Police Department conducted Holiday Patrols in the commercial areas of town during the month of December 2020. This increased patrol initiative consisted of uniformed officers in marked police cars, as well as less obvious patrols of detectives in unmarked police cars. The patrols occurred in and around the Vails Gate commercial area, as well as other strip mall and convenience store locations in Town. The overall purpose of these highly visible Holiday Patrols is to deter robberies and larcenies from occurring and to increase the overall safety of shoppers in town.

The Holiday Patrol Initiative proved to very successful again this holiday season. In the commercial areas where the patrols occurred, there were no robberies and only four (4) larcenies reported for the whole month of December 2020. Additionally, all four larceny cases resulted in an arrest and they were all shoplifting related. Police Chief Robert Doss stated, “Historically across the country, law enforcement sees an increase in robberies and larcenies during the holiday season and we simply will not allow this to happen here. 2020 marked our third holiday season in a row where we conducted these type of high visibility patrols. Impressively and once again, our efforts showed an overall decrease in these type of incidents. I think it is so very important that people coming to New Windsor to visit our businesses feel safe and I think we accomplished this. The success of the Holiday Patrol initiative is a direct result of the hard work of our officers and detectives and I appreciate all their efforts.”

It should also be noted that these patrols were conducted at no additional cost to the taxpayers. 

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 October 21, 2020 at approximately 8:21am there was a School Bus Accident on Route 207 in the Town of New Windsor. New Windsor Police responded and found that a Commercial Tree Service Truck that was heading Westbound on Route 207 crossed over the double yellow line and struck the Washingtonville School District School Bus that was driving Eastbound on Route 207. They then called for Fire Units for extrication for 3 people.

Fire and Rescue Units from Washingtonville Fire Department, Maybrook Fire Department, Vails Gate Fire Department and Montgomery Fire Department.

Ambulance Response was from New Windsor Ambulance Corps with assistance from Cornwall EMS, Blooming Grove EMS, Newburgh EMS and Highland Falls EMS.

The three Injured people who were extricated and brought to the Hospital were the driver of the tree service truck, the school bus driver and 1 student who was sitting behind the bus driver. The two drivers are in Critical Condition and the little girl is in Critical but stable position. No names are being released at this time.

Seven students walked off the bus and were brought to the hospital to be seen by medical professionals. They have since been treated and released.

New Windsor Police were assisted by NY State Police, Blooming Grove Police, NYSP accident investigation Unit, and NY State DOT.

The Accident is still under investigation at this time.

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.
 

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.
 

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
 

New Windsor Police Sergeant William Ruger was awarded the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair Award for 2019 for his leadership as our grant project director of the Police Traffic Services (“PTS”) grant.

New Windsor Police Sergeant William Ruger was awarded the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair Award for 2019 for his leadership as our grant project director of the Police Traffic Services (“PTS”) grant. Sgt. Ruger was recognized for his effective use of NYS grant funds in increasing motorist awareness of vehicle & traffic laws and for reducing personal injury motor vehicle crashes in New Windsor by 21% over the past year. He was also recognized for his innovative and productive use of grant funding to conduct nighttime traffic checkpoints to enforce & educate motorists in the area of child passenger safety. During just two of these nighttime traffic checkpoints conducted in 2019, an astonishing 45 child restraint violations were observed by Officers and enforcement action was taken.

The GTSC Chair Award is presented annually to an individual and their organization for having made efficient use of public resources and for producing programs that are innovative, superior and highly successful in promoting traffic safety. This year’s award was presented on October 24, 2019 at the NYS Highway Safety Symposium in Albany, New York. Pictured in the photo is Sgt. William Ruger (L) and NYS DMV Commissioner & Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark J.F. Schroeder (R). New Windsor Police Chief Robert Doss was also in attendance for the award presentation.