Mark H. Hall of Lewisboro

State police released a press release today announcing the arrest of Lewisboro resident, Mark H. Hall, 31, on Sunday, Feb. 8 in North Salem.

Mr. Hall was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired by Drugs, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree — all misdemeanors.

The press release states troopers were contacted by a Purdy’s woman who reported that Mr. Hall, an acquaintance, took her 2006 Jeep without her permission.  Troopers patrolled the area searching for Mr. Hall who returned to the area a short time later.

While Troopers interviewed him he displayed clues that indicated he was impaired by drugs and was also found to possess heroin and hypodermic needles.

The heroin was a “small amount” and there were no indications of intent to distribute, according to state police.

Mr. Hall was arraigned before the Town of Somers Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $1500 bond.  He was scheduled to appear before the Town of North Salem Court on Feb. 9.
 

After six years Lewisboro police officers have a contract that both the department and the town are satisfied with. (Reece Alvarez)

Lewisboro’s new contract with its police union was six years in the making, but the end result has received a “thumbs up” from all concerned.

“It was a long road but provided a good learning experience and helped us strengthen relationships between the town and the department and among members of its staff,” Town Board member and Deputy Supervisor Peter DeLucia told The Ledger on Tuesday.

Lewisboro Police Chief Frank Secret agreed.

“I am very happy with this contract,” he said. “We have improved police coverage and achieved a financial result that does not overburden Lewisboro taxpayers.”

The new contract was ratified this past Friday.

Long time coming

Mr. DeLucia, who led the Town Board’s effort to negotiate a new police contract, said the town and the union had reached a somewhat bitter impasse about 18 months ago.

“Things had reached a stalemate and had gotten to the point where we were set to go to arbitration with the Police Union or PBA. After only one session, we realized that arbitration was not the way to go because it tends to favor the police union and would have focused on the problem of six years of retroactive pay increases. The town simply could not afford to pay the entire back amount,” he said. “More important, arbitration by its nature tends to result in ‘Band Aid’ solutions and Lewisboro needed forward thinking.”

Mr. DeLucia said a decision was made to abandon the arbitration route and instead attempt to get a favorable contract by working with the new president of the town Police Benevolent Association, Billy Frattarola; its vice-president David Alfano; town attorney Anthony Mole, Mr. DeLucia, Chief Secret; and police officer Charles Beckett.

“We all sat down and ultimately hammered out a mutually beneficial contract,” Mr. DeLucia said.

New agreement

The new agreement, which is good for the next five years, calls for two years of retroactive pay increases plus a pay increase of approximately 2.625% for each year of the new contract.

“This was perfect for our budgeting,” Mr. DeLucia said.  “Our group was able to help the members of the department understand they are working for a town that is financially strapped.  Overall, the entire atmosphere has improved, and the previous rift between full-time and part-time officers is now gone.  Everyone understands they are on equal footing as police officers working for Lewisboro.  It’s now one for all.”

Mr. DeLucia said he was very happy with the final result and with the change in atmosphere and attitude.

“When I got the assignment from our supervisor I was a bit leery because of the history of the negotiations,” he said. “But I am pleased with the fact that we never went to more than the one arbitration session.  We could not have afforded what would have been the probable outcomes.  This was a long time in coming, but well worth it because it benefits our police department as well as town residents.”

When contacted by The Ledger on Tuesday, Chief Secret said he was equally satisfied.

“It’s a good agreement when no one side gets everything,” he said. “The negotiations were give and take on both sides. After six long years, we finally have a solid contract that is good to all concerned.”

Chief Secret said he was impressed with the attitude of the union during the final negotiations.

“I believe they tried to be fair to our taxpayers while still achieving a positive outcome for themselves,” he said.

Salaries

Exact figures for salaries in the new contract have not been tallied as yet.

Before the 2.625% increase called for in the new contract, Police Chief Frank Secret made $100,000. Part-time police officers are paid based on the number of hours worked at an average of $25 per hour.

The total pre-contract budget for police salaries was $468,000, with $150,000 allocated for part-time officers.

Improvements

Chief Secret said the department now has four full-time officers and six part-timers. The full-time officers include Chief Secret and the School Resource Officer, Andrew Llewellyn.

“We have added shifts to provide additional patrol coverage on the weekends and are also providing an additional officer for court sessions to handle increases in the number of cases,” he said. “We are also increasing coverage for Friday and Saturday nights.”

Chief Secret said he believed Lewisboro’s police department is a solid one.

“For a small town I think we are doing a very good job with coverage and I have seen department morale improved markedly over the past months,” he said. “We are now a harmonious group with a good contract that covers us for the next five years while keeping expenses in check.”

When asked by The Ledger to comment on the new contract, Town Supervisor Peter Parsons said, “this is not just another union/management contract. It is a big step toward creating the effective professional Police Department that Lewisboro needs to protect its citizens in an uncertain world.”

The presence of heroin in Lewisboro persists as incidents continue into 2015 after several arrests and overdoses involving residents last year — including the 130 glassine envelopes of heroin seized during the Nov. 14, 2014 arrest of a Bedford man living on Smith Ridge Road in South Salem.

Responding to an emergency dispatch for a suspected heroin overdose, Lewisboro police officer David Alfano brought a man back to life yesterday using Naloxone Hydrochloride, an overdose reversal drug adopted by the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC) and local police last year.

“It was a great thing — David being in the right place,” said Lewisboro Police Chief Frank Secret. “This is why you do the training, so you can save somebody’s life — whether it is CPR or something else, this is a big part of our job.”

The incident occurred on Oscaleta Road in South Salem at an address previously visited by police for heroin overdose emergencies.

According to the police report, at 1:56 p.m. on  Thursday, Feb. 19 Officer Alfano was dispatched to the South Salem residence and greeted by the 25 year-old victim’s father, who stated he had found his son unconscious on the floor in a bedroom and not breathing.

Officer Alfano confirmed the man was not breathing and found that he had no pulse.

“His pupils were also extremely restricted and his face was blue,” Officer Alfano wrote in his police report.

He then administered 2 milligrams of naloxone through the nostrils and rechecked the man’s vital signs, which did not change.

Naloxone was administered again and the man’s pulse slowly returned along with shallow breathing, according to the report.

The man was taken to the Northern Westchester Hospital Center by LVAC.

Both LVAC and Lewisboro police began carrying naloxone in 2014 — police started in the summer and LVAC in the fall.

The presence of heroin in Lewisboro has continued into 2015 after several arrests and overdoses involving residents last year, including 130 glassine envelopes of heroin seized during the Nov. 14, 2014 arrest of a Bedford man living on Smith Ridge Road in South Salem.

•  Recent Heroin arrest of Lewisboro resident

The Lake Street house fire that began late morning on Wednesday, Feb. 25 was responded to by six area fire departments and three emergency medical services. The home was heavily damaged, but there were no serious injuries. (Lewisboro Police)

A house fire on Lake Street in Goldens Bridge required the attention of six fire departments and three emergency medical services this afternoon.

There is “not much left of the house” and no official determination as to what may have caused the fire has been reached yet, said Lewisboro Police Officer Erika Kirschner.

There was one tenant living at the home, but they were not inside the home during the fire, she said.

There was only one minor injury during the incident, which involved a firefighter, she said.

Goldens Bridge Fire Department (GBFD) led the attack on the fire, which as of 3 p.m., still had fire crews on the scene.

Dispatches for responders to fire began at 10:41 a.m. and GBFD was joined by five other area fire departments including, South salem, Katonah, Bedford Hills, Vista, Somers and Croton Falls fire departments.

Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Westchester County Emergency Medical Service were also present.

The house, an approximately 30 by 60 foot two-story home was severely damaged by the fire, which from initial dispatches and first hand accounts included heavy, billowing smoke.

Robert Zalkin, owner of Goldens Bridge Fine Wines where Goldens Bridge resident Noah Sklarin was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for selling beer to an underage person during a state police sting operation on Feb, 21. (File photo)

Last weekend Salem Wine and Liquor in South Salem and Goldens Bridge Wines and Spirits (also known as Goldens Bridge Fine Wines) were the settings of underage drinking enforcement operations by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation from the Somers Barracks which resulted in the arrest of two clerks after they sold beer to an underage volunteer acting on behalf of the state police.

Noah Sklarin, 19, of Goldens Bridge was arrested at Goldens Bridge Wines & Spirits off of Route 138 in Goldens Bridge on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Jay Goldstein, 72, of Ridgefield, Conn. was arrested at Salem Wine and Liquor off of Route 35 in South Salem the same day.

According to the state police press release “numerous stores were checked throughout the Towns of Somers, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge by utilizing an eighteen-year old volunteer to purchase alcoholic beverages under the observation of plain-clothed investigators, supported by uniformed state troopers.”

“The New York State Police, with investigative support provided by the New York State Liquor Authority, routinely conducts underage drinking enforcement operations throughout the state in an effort to curb alcohol abuse and DWI incidents among teenagers.,” according to the release. “Goldstein and Sklarin were charged with the misdemeanor of Prohibited Sale of Alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. They were issued appearance tickets ordering them to appear in local court at a later date and released. In addition, their employers face possible civil penalties imposed by the State Liquor Authority.”

Lewisboro Police officer David Alfano was cited by the Town for his life-saving actions on Feb. 19, when he saved resident from a near-fatal heroin overdose.

Responding to an emergency dispatch for a suspected heroin overdose, Lewisboro police officer David Alfano brought a man back to life last week using naloxone hydrochloride, an overdose reversal drug adopted by the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC) and local police last year.

“It was a great thing — David being in the right place,” said Lewisboro Police Chief Frank Secret. “This is why you do the training, so you can save somebody’s life — whether it is CPR or something else, this is a big part of our job.”

Officer Alfano was also recognized for his life-saving action by the Town Board at its meeting this week.

The incident occurred on Oscaleta Road in South Salem at an address previously visited by police for heroin overdose emergencies.

According to the police report, at 1:56 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, Officer Alfano was dispatched to the South Salem home and met by the 25 year-old victim’s father, who stated he had found his son unconscious on the floor in a bedroom and not breathing.

Officer Alfano confirmed the man was not breathing and found that he had no pulse.

“His pupils were also extremely restricted and his face was blue,” Officer Alfano wrote in his police report.

He then administered two milligrams of naloxone through the nostrils and rechecked the man’s vital signs, which did not change. Naloxone was administered again and the man’s pulse slowly returned along with shallow breathing, according to the report.

The man was taken to the Northern Westchester Hospital Center by LVAC and survived the incident.

Both LVAC and Lewisboro police began carrying naloxone in 2014 — police started in the summer and LVAC in the fall.

The Lake Street house fire on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The all-volunteer Goldens Bridge Fire Department led the charge against a house fire on Lake Street this week that required the help of 11 fire departments by the time the fire was extinguished.

According to the Goldens Bridge Fire Department statement, at 10:41 a.m. a passerby reported smoke coming from the back of a two-story frame home at the intersection of Lake Street and Danger Road.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire Department responded with 10 volunteer firefighters and were on the scene fighting the “blaze” with two tankers, two fire engines and a rescue truck.

“Impressive, given the time of day when most volunteers are at their regular jobs,” fire officials said. “In addition, there were more than a dozen others from the GBFD providing support operations such as keeping traffic clear of the area, keeping curious residents at a safe distance, and maintaining the flow of water to the fire.”

South Salem, Vista, as well as Croton Falls, Katonah, Somers, Bedford Hills, Brewster, Mount Kisco, Mahopac and Mahopac Falls fire departments also responded to the fire.

There were eight tankers on the scene, including the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department’s two tankers. As tankers were emptying, they were being refilled at the nearby pond at the intersection of Route 138 and Fairmont Road, according to the statement.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the fire started underneath a wood-burning stove in the living room of the house.

GBFD 2nd Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy McManus said firefighters were able to contain the fire to the basement and living room of the structure because of the team effort of the various departments that responded.

The fire was first reported by a passerby. (Lewisboro Police)

“Considering the difficult and challenging conditions that we were up against, our members and all of the responders from the other departments should be commended for saving the structure and containing the fire before it escalated into a more damaging event,” Mr. McManus said. “Our long hours of training came into play, and this would not have been possible without the assistance of all the departments that turned out.”

“Not to be overlooked is the deep commitment of all volunteers, including Golden’s Bridge Fire Department personnel, who make enormous sacrifices by leaving their regular jobs and losing wages in order to respond to fire emergencies such as this to help others,” he added.

Mr. McManus said property and interior conditions made this response “one of the most challenging and difficult in recent times.”

Although there was a shoveled path leading to the house, he said that firefighters had to navigate through more than 20 inches of snow. The house also had a great deal of contents inside.

The fire was extinguished by 12:30 p.m.

While no one was injured, a pet dog died from smoke inhalation, according to the statement.

Firefighters remained on the scene for the next three hours, checking for hot spots and raking and sifting through the enormous amount of contents that had burned in the fire and left the scene at 3:30 p.m.­­­­

The all volunteer South Salem Fire Department will have an open house on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 to 3 at the firehouse on Route 35. Residents may meet members of the department and participate in activities including fire apparatus tours and live demonstrations, along with a fire truck bounce house and a fire safety trailer. For more information, call 914-763-3706 or visit southsalemfire.com.

The South Salem Fire Department will have an open house on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 to 3 at the firehouse on Route 35. Residents may meet members of the department and participate in activities including fire apparatus tours and live demonstrations, along with a fire truck bounce house and a fire safety trailer. The New York State Police will be on hand to install and inspect child seats, and the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps will conduct blood pressure screenings. In addition, the Westchester County Police Arson K-9 Team will be doing demonstrations throughout the day. Food and refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 914-763-3706 or visit southsalemfire.com.

The Bedford Police Department released the following information about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day:

With public participation at an all-time high after six prior events in three years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national, tribal, and community partners will hold a seventh National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at thousands of sites across America on Saturday, Oct. 26. These Take Back Days give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

Prescription drugs that languish in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high; almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Americans participating in DEA’s six previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 2.8 million pounds—almost 1,409 tons—of prescription drugs, most recently at more than 5,800 sites operated by over 4,300 of DEA’s law enforcement partners.

The Bedford Police Department accepts unwanted prescription drugs 365 days per year, 24 hours per day at 307 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Please take advantage of this free service by participating in National Prescription Drub Take Back Day!

To continue providing its community-funded emergency services, the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC) will be holding its annual country auction at the Waccabuc Country Club this weekend to pay for its operating costs through the next year and purchase a new ambulance.

“We really need everyone in town to help support us,” said Anne Hirsch, LVAC president.

The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. It is LVAC’s biggest fund-raiser, providing the bulk of the money that will support its annual $150,000 budget and, it is hoped, provide for the corps’ new ambulance to replace one of its two aging and ailing vehicles, particularly the 13-year-old one slated for retirement.

“It is starting to get a little more loose and it is getting somewhat antiquated,” said LVAC captain Bob Stoddard. “Electrical system is a little antiquated, there are problems with the lights — it’s time and we are going to start having to dump money into it pretty soon. It is time to do it before something happens, before somebody gets hurt.”

LVAC’s two ambulances are seven and 13 years old, with the vehicles typically having a 10-year life span before the corps tries to salvage or sell the vehicles, Mr. Stoddard said. The 13-year-old ambulance has been pushed beyond its 10-year retirement point on account of its relatively good condition and a tough financial climate over the last several years, Ms. Hirsch said.

The new ambulance would cost $200,000, of which $35,000 has already been raised and committed toward an engine that is currently being built, Ms. Hirsch said.

Schematics for the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps new ambulance. (Courtesy of LVAC)

To achieve this lofty sum, the corps has called for a “leadership team” of donors to help spearhead the effort and has received significant interest, with a few $10,000 and $5,000 donations, Ms. Hirsch said, but there is still a $165,000 gap to close in order to buy the new ambulance.

Neighbors helping out

It may seem like a mystery, or miracle, how a fleet of two ambulances, an SUV and about 40 on-call volunteers are able to run an around-the-clock, free ambulance service without local, state or federal support, but like the auction, it is made possible through the generous donations of time and money from the community, Ms. Hirsch said.

Often referred to within the LVAC community as the last free ride, LVAC does not charge patients for the care they receive or transportation to emergency facilities, whereas a typical hospital ride in an ambulance can cost hundreds of dollars, Ms. Hirsch said.

The auction will have a cash bar, live music — compliments of local folk musician Chip Andrus — and a variety of hors d’oeuvres and desserts donated from local restaurants, delis and residents.

The auction will be split into live and silent portions and include items for bid such as golf rounds at Quaker Ridge and Waccabuc country clubs, tickets for the Leatherman’s Loop trail run, a 1914 baby grand piano, tickets for Rangers, Knicks and Giants games, horseback riding lessons courtesy of JT Farms, and exterior lighting and specialty dinner packages.

Smaller items for bid will include baskets and specially themed items for gardening and dining, quality furniture and yard maintenance equipment.

Auctioneers Maarten Ten Holder of Sotheby’s and Dr. Michael Stillman will run the live event in a traditional style, Ms. Hirsch said.

Ms. Hirsch added that the auctions will also include items specific to the new ambulance, such as the GPS system, CPR kit, emergency lights, and tires, that supporters will be able to direct their donations toward.

“The ambulance isn’t mine,” Mr. Stoddard said. “It belongs to everyone in town and I think that is really a big difference for this fund-raiser. We get to everyone eventually.”

Information and tickets for the event may be found on LVAC’s website: lewisborovac.org.

Smoke from a massive brush fire in Rockland County has blown all the way to Lewisboro and into Connecticut Friday morning, as fire departments throughout the area have been receiving calls from residents who smell smoke.

The South Salem Fire Department responded to reports of smoke on Oscaleta Road, Makepeace Hill, Boutonville Road and Truesdale Lake Drive between 7:10 and 9:35 Friday morning, but a firefighter from the department said that the smoke odor was most likely a result of a brush fire in Orangeburg, just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, that has burned more than 50 acres and is still raging.

The firefighter said that departments throughout Westchester are responding to reports of smoke, but that the Rockland fire is most likely the cause.

Smoke has made it all the way into Ridgefield, Conn., where the fire department fielded multiple calls this morning.

At 10:40 Friday morning, the Lewisboro town clerk’s office released the following statement:

“Please be advised, that the smog and smell of smoke throughout town is from an ongoing brush fire burning in Orangeburg, Rockland County. The winds have carried the smoke Westchester, even as far as into Connecticut, resulting in many local volunteer departments responding to numerous calls throughout the morning. Check your weather service websites and channels for local air quality alerts, and stay informed via local news for updates.”

Town Supervisor Peter Parsons came out of Town Board executive session last Thursday night and announced the town had agreed to pay the Lewisboro Police Benevolent Association (PBA) $1,900 for a grievance filed against the town.

A driver was flown to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla on Thursday morning after a rollover accident on Route 35 in Cross River.

Emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle accident just west of Adams Hill Road around 7:50 a.m. Thursday after a car driving east allegedly crossed the double-yellow line and hit a van driving west, Lewisboro police said.

The van rolled over on its side, and the four passengers inside appeared to suffer minor injuries. Both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles, and the driver of the car was taken by helicopter to Valhalla, state police said, although the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The Town Board agreed to reimburse the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps $152 for a tent permit for its recent auction. The charge was made in error.

A state trooper directs traffic across from the Town Park because of downed power lines over the road. (Matt Spillane photo)

Update: 11:15 a.m.

Route 35 has been reopened.

The road was closed Wednesday morning between Bouton Road and Mead Street in South Salem because of an accident that left power lines hanging low across the road.

Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, a car hit a utility pole across from the entrance to the Town Park, Lewisboro police said, causing power lines to drop down and hang low over the street. Traffic was backed up in both directions, and the town clerk said in a town-wide email at 9:40 that Route 35 would be closed for about two hours between Bouton Road and Mead Street.

No one was injured in the accident.

A photo of Kathleen and Robert Durst in the 1970s.

Former South Salem resident Robert Durst has been arrested again. Once again it has to do with murder.

The member of one of New York City’s biggest real estate families, suspected in the disappearance of his wife more than 30 years ago, was arrested on an extradition warrant out of Los Angeles.

FBI agents arrested the Mr. Durst around 11 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans on a first degree warrant for the murder of his close friend, Susan Berman, 15 years ago.

In 2003, the 71-year-old Mr. Durst, the recent subject of an HBO documentary, was acquitted in the murder of his Texas neighbor, despite admitting that he dismembered the man.

Kathleen Durst lived in South Salem with her husband, son of the real estate mogul Seymour Durst, more than 30 years ago. She disappeared in January 1982 and it took Mr. Durst five days to report to family or authorities that his wife had been missing. He also gave conflicting reports regarding the last time he had seen her, and a subsequent investigation revealed the Dursts had been experiencing marital problems, including abuse, and that Ms. Durst had been considering a divorce. Ms. Durst’s remains have never been found.

According to an affidavit from the DA’s office, on Dec. 24, 2000, Susan Berman, a journalist and longtime friend of Mr. Durst, who was believed to have information relating to Ms. Durst’s disappearance, was found murdered execution-style in her house in California. Mr. Durst was questioned but never charged with Ms. Berman’s murder.

Shortly thereafter, in 2001, Mr. Durst was reportedly concealing his identity in Texas, using false identities and cross-dressing as a woman. In that same year he was arrested for the murder of an elderly neighbor named Morris Black, whose body parts were found floating in Galveston Bay, Texas. Mr. Durst claimed he killed Mr. Black in self-defense and admitted to dismembering and disposing of the body. He was acquitted of the murder.

The old Katonah train station 1967, the site where Robert Durst’s wife, Kathleen was last seen being dropped off in 1982.

A high speed chase in Lewisboro ended in a manhunt in Ridgefield, Conn. on Saturday, Feb. 7. (Reece Alvarez)

Ridgefield, Conn. police arrested a Miami, Fla., man for drug and weapon charges after they found him buried in a snow bank on Mead Ridge Road around 9:18 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 after a high speed chase that began in Lewisboro.

Antony Vincent, 27, was charged with illegal possession of cocaine and marijuana with the intent to sell and carrying a dangerous weapon.

He was also charged with interfering with the duties of a police officer, failure to appear in court in the first degree, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ridgefield, Lewisboro and Westchester County police searched for Mr. Vincent’s car in Ridgefield after Lewisboro police officers Andrew Llewellyn and David Alfano chased Mr. Vincent into Ridgefield, Conn. after he fled during an attempt to stop him for a speeding violation on Elmwood Road in Lewisboro.

LPD notified Ridgefield dispatch that Mr. Vincent was wanted on a felony warrant and warned that he could be armed. Mr. Vincent was known to LPD from a previous incident in 2014 where he was observed fleeing from a vehicle as a passenger into a home during a traffic stop — as well as being a John Jay High School graduate.

Lewisboro police found the car parked in the driveway of a Mead Ridge Road home and notified Ridgefield police, who set up a perimeter and used K-9 officer Loki to search the area.

“K-9 Loki was able to locate Mr. Vincent who had buried himself in the snow,” Ridgefield Police Capt. Jeff Kreitz said.

Police said he was a quarter mile from his car.

“In close proximity to Mr. Vincent, K-9 Loki located a bag containing approximately 3.5 grams of Cocaine, 25 grams of Marijuana, drug packaging material and a switchblade knife,” Capt. Jeff Kreitz said.

“It should be noted that the suspect had no connection to the Mead Ridge Road residence,” he added.

Ridgefield police said that the failure to appear in the first degree charge stemmed from a 2006 criminal mischief arrest in Ridgefield, Conn., for which Mr. Vincent never appeared in court.

Mr. Vincent’s bond was set at $7,500, which he posted, and was released to the custody of the Connecticut State Police who also had an active warrant for him.

Mr. Vincent is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Feb. 20.

—Additional reporting by Steve Coulter, Ridgefield Press

Mark H. Hall of Lewisboro

State police released a press release today announcing the arrest of Lewisboro resident, Mark H. Hall, 31, on Sunday, Feb. 8 in North Salem.

Mr. Hall was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired by Drugs, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree — all misdemeanors.

The press release states troopers were contacted by a Purdy’s woman who reported that Mr. Hall, an acquaintance, took her 2006 Jeep without her permission.  Troopers patrolled the area searching for Mr. Hall who returned to the area a short time later.

While Troopers interviewed him he displayed clues that indicated he was impaired by drugs and was also found to possess heroin and hypodermic needles.

The heroin was a “small amount” and there were no indications of intent to distribute, according to state police.

Mr. Hall was arraigned before the Town of Somers Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $1500 bond.  He was scheduled to appear before the Town of North Salem Court on Feb. 9.

After six years Lewisboro police officers have a contract that both the department and the town are satisfied with. (Reece Alvarez)

Lewisboro’s new contract with its police union was six years in the making, but the end result has received a “thumbs up” from all concerned.

“It was a long road but provided a good learning experience and helped us strengthen relationships between the town and the department and among members of its staff,” Town Board member and Deputy Supervisor Peter DeLucia told The Ledger on Tuesday.

Lewisboro Police Chief Frank Secret agreed.

“I am very happy with this contract,” he said. “We have improved police coverage and achieved a financial result that does not overburden Lewisboro taxpayers.”

The new contract was ratified this past Friday.

Long time coming

Mr. DeLucia, who led the Town Board’s effort to negotiate a new police contract, said the town and the union had reached a somewhat bitter impasse about 18 months ago.

“Things had reached a stalemate and had gotten to the point where we were set to go to arbitration with the Police Union or PBA. After only one session, we realized that arbitration was not the way to go because it tends to favor the police union and would have focused on the problem of six years of retroactive pay increases. The town simply could not afford to pay the entire back amount,” he said. “More important, arbitration by its nature tends to result in ‘Band Aid’ solutions and Lewisboro needed forward thinking.”

Mr. DeLucia said a decision was made to abandon the arbitration route and instead attempt to get a favorable contract by working with the new president of the town Police Benevolent Association, Billy Frattarola; its vice-president David Alfano; town attorney Anthony Mole, Mr. DeLucia, Chief Secret; and police officer Charles Beckett.

“We all sat down and ultimately hammered out a mutually beneficial contract,” Mr. DeLucia said.

New agreement

The new agreement, which is good for the next five years, calls for two years of retroactive pay increases plus a pay increase of approximately 2.625% for each year of the new contract.

“This was perfect for our budgeting,” Mr. DeLucia said.  “Our group was able to help the members of the department understand they are working for a town that is financially strapped.  Overall, the entire atmosphere has improved, and the previous rift between full-time and part-time officers is now gone.  Everyone understands they are on equal footing as police officers working for Lewisboro.  It’s now one for all.”

Mr. DeLucia said he was very happy with the final result and with the change in atmosphere and attitude.

“When I got the assignment from our supervisor I was a bit leery because of the history of the negotiations,” he said. “But I am pleased with the fact that we never went to more than the one arbitration session.  We could not have afforded what would have been the probable outcomes.  This was a long time in coming, but well worth it because it benefits our police department as well as town residents.”

When contacted by The Ledger on Tuesday, Chief Secret said he was equally satisfied.

“It’s a good agreement when no one side gets everything,” he said. “The negotiations were give and take on both sides. After six long years, we finally have a solid contract that is good to all concerned.”

Chief Secret said he was impressed with the attitude of the union during the final negotiations.

“I believe they tried to be fair to our taxpayers while still achieving a positive outcome for themselves,” he said.

Salaries

Exact figures for salaries in the new contract have not been tallied as yet.

Before the 2.625% increase called for in the new contract, Police Chief Frank Secret made $100,000. Part-time police officers are paid based on the number of hours worked at an average of $25 per hour.

The total pre-contract budget for police salaries was $468,000, with $150,000 allocated for part-time officers.

Improvements

Chief Secret said the department now has four full-time officers and six part-timers. The full-time officers include Chief Secret and the School Resource Officer, Andrew Llewellyn.

“We have added shifts to provide additional patrol coverage on the weekends and are also providing an additional officer for court sessions to handle increases in the number of cases,” he said. “We are also increasing coverage for Friday and Saturday nights.”

Chief Secret said he believed Lewisboro’s police department is a solid one.

“For a small town I think we are doing a very good job with coverage and I have seen department morale improved markedly over the past months,” he said. “We are now a harmonious group with a good contract that covers us for the next five years while keeping expenses in check.”

When asked by The Ledger to comment on the new contract, Town Supervisor Peter Parsons said, “this is not just another union/management contract. It is a big step toward creating the effective professional Police Department that Lewisboro needs to protect its citizens in an uncertain world.”