Mayor Pagano on Missing Police Evidence Investigation

Port Chester Mayor Neil Pagano acknowledged that the village board is investigating evidence missing from village police custody during the Sept. 3 Board of Trustee meeting, the first time he mentioned it during a public meeting. The Mayor added that he will not “entertain” any comments or questions on the investigation “until there is something material to report,” and that the matter “will not go quietly into the night.”

Pagano also asked the public to respect the honest cops who are serving the public every day and said that many public comments regarding the investigation have been “unfair” when they paint the whole police department and the village staff with the same broad stroke. 

On Aug. 29, The Westmore News reported that $27,000 and a large stash of drugs, believed to be a kilo of cocaine, and possibly a gun, went missing from the police evidence property room at police headquarters.

Last night, Pagano confirmed that Police Chief Joseph Krezminski reported the breach of security to the Board of Trustees in early July. 

Read Pagano’s full remarks here: 

As most people know by now, the PCPD reported that there was a breach of security and the disappearance of certain evidence from the evidence property room in police headquarters sometime in early July.

At that time the Board was timely briefed by Chief Krezminski in executive session and an investigation was commenced immediately. Subsequent to the initial investigation, and at the request of this Mayor and the entire BOT, an outside agency, was contacted to become involved in the investigation.  That process remains ongoing and is still underway.

Every member of the PCPD has been affected by this incident that arose out of the selfish and illegal act committed by an individual or individuals.  Every good honest cop – who is on the street every day – protecting you and me - and continues to do his/or her job in a dedicated and serious manner is taking the hit for this incident. Every honest and hardworking civilian that is employed by the Department and who has access to the building is also in the line of fire.  The carless, insensitive and off-handed comments and disparaging remarks that I’ve seen and heard from some of the participants in the various social media and on the street paints all of the PD with a broad brush.  That’s not only unfair….it’s just plain wrong and irresponsible. As this matter progresses, and it will progress to the point of wherever it takes us, please be rest assured that your BOT will take whatever steps it may have to take in order to bring this matter to a conclusion. It will not be quashed!

With regard to this evening’s BOT proceedings and the BOT proceedings that will follow in the coming weeks - please be advised that I will not entertain any questions or comments from the public in connection with this matter nor will any further questions from the press or other similar media be entertained by responses other than or similar to “no comment” until such time as the investigation has reached a point where there is something material to report. I would encourage the members of this Board to follow the same guideline. 

Make no mistake - silence on the part of the Village and/or its elected officials does not mean that matters have come to a halt – whether it takes weeks or months. We do not intend to let this matter go quietly into the night.