TEST OPRHP Welcomes 29 New Graduates from the New York State Park Police Academy

 

First time State Parks has two graduating classes in one year

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) welcomed 29 new graduates to the New York State Park Police ranks. After six months of intense training in the 19^th Basic School at the State Parks Police Academy, these new officers will be assigned to serve New York's 250 state parks, historic sites and recreational facilities serving more than 84 million visitors.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul, our State Parks Police force continues to grow,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. “In addition to being the first time we have two graduating classes in less than a year, we have seen a raise in officers’ salaries statewide and added resources which shows the safety commitment Governor Hochul and New York State has made. This graduating class is well trained and dedicated to New York State’s parks and historic sites. State Parks continues to emphasize and is proud of the strategies undertaken to advance women in policing, including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture. These officers will ensure a safe and welcoming environment for the millions of visitors who join us each year.”

Park Police Chief Michael Daddona said, “Congratulations to this new class of park police officers. Your dedication and the support from your families make this an extremely important day. I look forward to watching your career develop from one end of the state to the other. New York State Park Police training prepares you for challenging and rewarding experiences – from law enforcement, investigations and extreme weather – in New York State’s forests, waterways and trails.”

For the first time, State Parks has had two graduating classes in one year. It was held today at the Hall of Springs at Saratoga Spa State Park. This class joins 214 current members of the department. Recruits were in residential training for the past six months at the State Park Police Academy in Rensselaerville, Albany County. They completed the first Park Police summer academy, which began on June 23, 2024.

This class achieves Governor Hochul’s 30X30 Pledge to increase the percentage of female recruits to 30 percent by 2030. This class is at 34 percent – 10 female and 19 male. The Pledge is a series of actions policing agencies are taking to improve representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.

Training for recruits consists of classroom education in Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Park and Recreation Law, criminal investigations and a host of other police-related topics. In addition, the recruits received hands-on training in firearms, first response, snowmobile operation, ATV operation, emergency vehicle operation and a wide variety of other law enforcement related topics. The new officers will begin a 10-week field training program where they will receive supervised training from senior officers, followed by assignment to patrol responsibilities.

The following graduates received special recognition awards:

• Officer Nicholas Fusco of Smithtown, NY, earns both the Physical Fitness and Leadership Awards
• Officer Michael Bodnar of Shoreham, NY, Firearms Proficiency Award
• Officer Daria Black of New Hyde Park, NY, Academic Achievement Award

Effective January 6, 2025, the members listed below will be assigned in the Districts and Zones indicated to complete Supervised Field Training. Upon successful completion of the Division’s Supervised Field Training Program, they will report to their Post Field Training Assignment Zone.

Name  (Hometown)                                         Post Field Training District / Zone

Officer Otto Pleakis (Allegany)                      Allegany 

Officer Sahidul Islam (Albany)                        Central 

Officer Blaise Sutton ( Utica)                          Central 

Officer Vincent Alesi (Locust Valley)            Finger Lakes 

Officer Amber Dillenbeck (Sharon Springs)  Finger Lakes 

Officer Ryan Beutel (Hilton)                          Genesee 

Officer Carla Martinez (Lawrence)               Genesee 

Officer Samantha Turner (Nanuet)               Genesee 

Officer Daria Black (New Hyde Park)                NYC 

Officer Michael Bodnar (Shoreham)                  NYC 

Officer Stephanie Carcamo (West Hempstead) NYC 

Officer Gianna Dickson (Hauppauge)                 NYC 

Officer James Fisenne (Wantagh)                       NYC 

Officer Nicholas Fusco (Smithtown)                    NYC 

Officer Robert Gitto (Massapequa Park)             NYC 

Officer Arnold Hillian (Baldwin)                            NYC 

Officer Kyle Walsh (Massapequa)                        NYC 

Officer Nicholas Anzalone (Grand Island)        Niagara 

Officer Md Iqbal Hossain (Queens)                 Niagara 

Officer Alan Lin (Monticello)                             Niagara 

Officer Daniel Aldrich (Airmont)                           Palisades 

Officer Timothy Bazylewicz (Farmingdale)           Palisades 

Officer Aleah Gonzalez (Patchogue)                    Palisades 

Officer Brandon Jennings (Greenwood Lake)      Palisades 

Officer Matthew Parrillo (Medford)                        Palisades 

Officer John Menconeri (Wappingers Falls)          Taconic 

Officer Sabrina Salazar-Arango (White Plains)     Taconic 

Officer Enma Bautista (East Patchogue)  Thousand Islands 

Officer Maddy Chamberlain (Adams)        Thousand Islands 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us for our new Wellness Challenge, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.

Housing Lottery Launches for 1700 Jerome Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, not Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1700 Jerome Avenue, a seven-story mixed-use building in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Designed by Studio Gallos and developed by Moses Kupferstein of BBM Construction Corp., the structure yields 27 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 11 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $78,858 to $218,010.

1700 Jerome Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn via NYC Housing Connect

Amenities include a garage with assigned parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations, pet-friendly policies, gym, outdoor terrace, and a virtual doorman. Units are equipped with air conditioning, intercoms, energy-efficient appliances, hardwood floors, washers and dryers, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity, including stove, heat, and hot water.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $2,300 for incomes ranging from $78,858 to $161,590; seven one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,450 for incomes ranging from $84,000 to $181,740; and three two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,795 for incomes ranging from $95,829 to $218,010.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than January 22, 2025.

Government Contractor Agrees to Pay $1M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for Submitting Fraudulent Bids on Prime Vendor Contracts

 

Johnny Buscema Jr. of New Port Richey, Florida, and his companies, S.A.F.E. Structure Designs, based in Las Vegas, and U.S.A. Manufacturing, based in New Port Richey, have agreed to pay $1,000,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by causing a prime vendor for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to submit fraudulent contract bids to DLA that resulted in Department of Defense (DoD) customers being overcharged for goods and related services purchased under those contracts. The settlement is based on the settling parties’ ability to pay.

Buscema owns S.A.F.E. Structure Designs, which sells safety equipment to government customers, and USA Manufacturing, a general construction company. Both companies provide third party logistics support, such as product acquisition, receiving, warehousing, transportation, shipping and returns, to military customers through DLA contracts for Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) for the Northeast and Southeast regions of the United States. The MRO contracts covered by the settlement are held by a “prime vendor,” which procures for DoD agencies supplies and equipment, such as chemicals, electrical supplies, hardware, HVAC/refrigeration, prefabricated structures and a variety of small tools. The goal of the MRO program is to achieve favorable product pricing through leveraged buying, infrastructure savings, and inventory cost reductions. To obtain the best price for items procured for the government, the MRO contracts require the prime vendor to engage in a competitive bidding process, soliciting bids from two independently competing vendors for transactions below $25,000 and from three independently competing vendors for transactions at or above $25,000.

The United States alleged that, from 2016 to 2023, the settling parties conspired with other entities to rig bids for awards on the MRO contracts for the Northeast and Southeast regions of the United States. More specifically, Buscema allegedly submitted non-competitive bids, paid other vendors to submit non-competitive bids and submitted multiple bids from his own two companies on the same solicitations to assist the prime vendor to meet its obligation to obtain bids from two or three vendors and to make one of the bids appear more competitive. As a result of these alleged schemes, the United States contends it was overcharged for items purchased under the MRO contracts.

“Those who seek to do business with the government are expected to compete fairly and independently to ensure that the government receives an appropriate price,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will hold accountable government contractors that engage in bid rigging or otherwise seek to defraud the American taxpayers.”

“As evidenced in this settlement agreement, these contractors gamed the system to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “They manipulated and undermined the fair and open bidding process designed to save our military — and taxpayers — money. Contractors should be scrupulous in dealing with the government, not coordinating with each other to pad their bottom line. When defense contractors collude, rather than compete, they violate the law and the public’s trust.”

“The DoD expects its contractors to compete in open and fair markets,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the DoD’s Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office. “This announcement demonstrates our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of anticompetitive practices and ensure the integrity of the DoD’s procurement process.”

“Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division works diligently to maintain the Army’s readiness and will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to prevent and thoroughly investigate fraudulent activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID)’s Fraud Field Office. “CID is committed to providing expertise and capabilities supporting whole of government efforts to ensure the U.S. Army remains the most technologically advanced, capable, and ready fighting force in the world.”

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from DCIS, Army CID, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General.

Trial Attorney Samson Asiyanbi of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.