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GOP Lawmakers

Rally Over Flaws

In Justice Reform

Prosecutors, Sheriffs Join Chorus

Of Woes Emerging In Past 37 Days

The Democratic state Legislature's justice reforms are "empowering repeat offenders," state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, tells a rally this morning in the lobby of the Otsego County Jail.  With him are, from left, state Senate candidate Peter Oberacker, Schenevus; Assemblymen Chris Tague, Schoharie, and John Salka, Brookfield; Sheriffs Todd Hood, Madison County, Richard J. Devlin, Jr., who hosted today's event, and Ray Stevens, Schoharie County; Assemblyman Robert Smullen, Montgomery County; Oneonta Police Chief Doug Brenner, Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl, Assemblyman Brian Miller, New Hartford, and Madison County Chief Assistant District Attorney Robert Mascari.  (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Senator Seward, left, Assemblyman Tague, right, and state Senate candidate Peter Oberacker confer before the start of today's rally.

MIDDLEFIELD – It was a day for reporting nightmares.

Oneonta Police Chief Doug Brenner reported his officers apprehended a possible shoplifter, but were unable to hold the suspect under New York State’s criminal justice reforms. “Even before we are done” with the paperwork, the store owners called again.  “The shoplifter was back in their business,” the chief said.

All police agencies need informers to crack drug cases, said Schoharie County Sheriff Roy Brown.  Now, under new discovery provisions, “your informants will be disclosed before suspects can come to trial.”  Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, said an informer on the MS-13 Puerto Rican gang was identified through disclosures required under the state reforms, and was killed.

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