Saturday, October 28, 2023

NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OFFICER INDICTED FOR EVIDENCE TAMPERING ON RIKERS ISLAND

 

Defendant Allegedly Planted Makeshift Weapon in Inmate’s Cell and Falsely Reported Recovering It; Crime Captured on Defendant’s Own Body-Worn Camera

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber today announced that a NYC Department of Correction Officer has been indicted on evidence tampering, falsifying business records and official misconduct charges for allegedly placing a sharp object in an inmate’s cell and then reporting it as recovered contraband. The incident was captured on the Officer’s own body-worn camera, which he unintentionally activated. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “There have been too many brutal slashings of inmates and staff inside Rikers Island, and for a Correction Officer to allegedly plant a 4-inch, pointed shard of plexiglass in an inmate’s cell and then pretend he found it is unconscionable and absurd.” 

 DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “As charged, this Correction Officer failed to act with the honor and integrity that we expect of those entrusted with the safety and security of persons in custody, when he planted a sharpened piece of plexiglass in an inmate’s cell and falsified records relating to that object, following an incident involving the Officer’s use of force against that inmate. I thank the Department of Correction for uncovering this misconduct and promptly referring it to DOI for further investigation, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in this important prosecution.

Officer Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dionisio Rosario, 33, a seven-year NYC DOC Officer, was arraigned today on Tampering with Physical Evidence, four counts of first-degree Falsifying Business Records, six counts of second-degree Falsifying Business Records and two counts of Official Misconduct before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack. The defendant is due back in court on December 19, 2023.

According to the investigation, on April 4, 2023, members of the DOC Emergency Services Unit, including Rosario, were conducting a search inside of Robert N. Davoren Center (“RNDC”) 5 Upper North housing area. During the search, the defendant was involved in a use of force with an inmate.

Following the use of force, the defendant is captured on video surveillance, including his own body worn camera, grasping a sharpened object inside of his right hand, and is seen entering the cell of the person with whom he had the use of force and placing the 4.5-inch piece of sharpened plexiglass underneath a piece of paper by the sink area. The defendant is seen searching other areas of the cell before coming back to the sink area, where he removed the sharpened object from where he had previously planted it. The defendant allegedly stated that he recovered it by the sink area but also stated that it was in the inmate’s hand and gave other false information in four DOC reports.

District Attorney Clark thanked the Department of Investigation. The DOI investigation was conducted by Correction Officer Investigator Anthony Palmer of DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for DOC, under the supervision of Assistant Inspector General Alexandra Caruana, Deputy Inspector General Reginald Barometre, Inspector General Whitney Ferguson, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Governor Hochul Announces $5 Million Available for Qualified New York State Gun Violence Prevention Program Funding to Support Community-Led, Youth-Based Programs

Governor Hochul poses with members of BIVO 

Funding to Support Community-Led Youth-Based Programs for Two Years


Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Department of Health in collaboration with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will make available $5 million in New York State funding for a qualified organization to support grassroots, community-based organizations that create and maintain local programming for youth in neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence. Interested organizations should complete the request for applications here. Deadline to apply for the funding, which is available over a two-year period, is November 8, 2023.

“Too many lives have been lost because of senseless gun violence, but in New York we are working to make sure that ends,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will help community-based organizations support at-risk youth in their neighborhoods to keep them off the streets and away from guns. My administration is committed to making our state safer and ensuring our youth have bright futures filled with opportunity over violence.”

The Health Department’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), part of the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights (OHEHR) is partnering with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to distribute $2.5 million annually for two years to an organization serving as a fiscal, contractual and project manager facilitating this investment in community-based organizations.Community Youth Programs will allow youth ranging in age from 12 to 24 to receive various services, including therapeutic support, such as individual and group mental health and behavioral counseling; Additionally, young people will have the opportunity to participate in STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics - and arts activities, as well as recreation and sports.

After the Supreme Court issued its June 23, 2023, decision in Bruen, Governor Hochul convened a special session of the legislature to act on legislation that strengthened New York's pistol permitting process, providing a national model for gun safety, and leading the fight against gun violence. These new laws include requirements for comprehensive background checks, and firearm safety and live-fire training for individuals seeking to obtain concealed carry permits. They also prohibit concealed carry permit holders from bringing their firearms into sensitive locations, including schools, government buildings and hospitals and require renewal or recertification of permits every three years. New York State also launched a gun safety website to provide the public, gun owners, and gun dealers with comprehensive information about the new requirements under state law.

Last year, Governor Hochul also announced $30 million to support New York City’s fight against gun violence, including $6 million for the New York City Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Blueprint for Community Safety. This built on ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence in New York, part of a total $337 million in the FY24 Budget allocated to support a comprehensive, multifaceted plan to target gun violence and violent crime, that included substantial investment in both Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) programs and SNUG Street Outreach programs, which operate in 14 communities statewide.

The Health Department’s OGVP investment of $5 million will support many of the DCJS Gun Involved Violence Elimination jurisdictions. GIVE is a key component of New York State’s shooting homicide reduction strategy, and provides additional resources in communities with the highest rates of gun violence. These counties historically account for more than 80 percent of the violent crime that occurs in New York State outside of New York City.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

(Friday) Extra, Extra
Business to Business Networking on City Island
138th Street Merchant Association Convenes Stakeholders for Public Safety
BXL Business Incubator Grand Opening in the HUB at 149th Street
UniFirst Grand Opening
NYC Restaurant Week

Legislation & Advocacy
Dining Out NYC Proposed Rules
NYC Citizen's Budget Commission Survey
NYC SBS Fund Finder Launched
Loss Prevention Technology Survey

Upcoming Events
MGM Supplier Diversity Procurement Webinar, virtual,11/14/2023, from 9am - 10am
Veteran's Day Luncheon - Honoring All Who Served, in-person, Pasquale Rigoletto, 2311 Arthur Avenue Bronx, NY. 11/15/2023 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Friday Extra Business to Business Networking City Island
CITY ISLAND BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
 NETWORKING
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business to business-to-business networking event on City Island at the acclaimed Porto Fino's Restaurant on the waterfront. Members and guests learned about small business offerings, the Small Business Resource Network, and M/WBE certification and opportunities and discussed the need for coalition building on City Island.

This event is part of a series of networking and educational opportunities in partnership with Councilmember Velasquez.

For more information: sbrn@bronxchamber.org
138th MERCHANT ORGANIZING FOCUSES ON PUBLIC SAFETY
138th Street Merchants organize for the commercial district.

Business owners came together with NYPD to discuss the newly formed Merchant Association, pubic safety goals, and opportunities for the area.

Led by the Avenue NYC - Mott Haven program, year three, focuses on building sustained systems to keep building the area's momentum.

For more information? AvenueNYC@bronxchamber.org
BXL BUSINESS INCUBATOR OPENS IN THE HUB
The Bronx Chamber team joined BOC's executive director Nancy Carin, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and community leaders for the ribbon cutting of BOC Network's BXL Business Incubator at the HUB. Located in the busiest commercial district in the Bronx, the BXL incubator will provide growth space and services for entrepreneurs who seek opportunities to grow to scale.

To learn more about these programs, email: sbrn@bronxchamber.org
UNIFIRST WELCOMED TO THE BRONX
GRAND OPENING
Welcome to the Bronx 

Congratulations to Unifirst Corporation on their grand opening on their new facility here in the Bronx. The Bronx Chamber team with our Executive Committee welcome UniFirst to the borough.

UniFirst Corporation, a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety services, is excited to announce the grand opening of its new uniform service facility in the Bronx.

 The 42,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to serving businesses in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and portions of Nassau County.
NYC Restaurant Week Launches

This is reminder to our hospitality sector businesses that NYC Restaurant Week registration is now open for the Winter 2024 program, taking place January 16th – February 4th, 2024. NYC Restaurant Week is designed to attract travelers and locals to restaurants across the City while offering incredible value on multi-course dining.

If your restaurant has participated before and would like to do so again, please log in to the members-only section of nyctourism.com and complete the registration form. If your restaurant is new to the program or would like more information, please complete this interest form and a member of NYC Tourism will be in touch.

Early Bird Registration ends October 31. Any questions may be sent to nycrestweek@nyctourism.com.
LEGISLATION & ADVOCACY
“Dining Out NYC” Proposed Rules

The Adams administration is launching an engagement campaign on proposed rules for “Dining Out NYC,” the city’s permanent outdoor dining program. Under the program, outdoor dining will be permitted year-round on the sidewalk and in the roadway between April and November. The rules include a fee structure with varying rates based on location and setup size, design requirements, and siting criteria. The first approved Dining Out NYC setups are expected in spring 2024.
Citizens Budget Commission, or CBC for short, has long advocated for regular citywide resident surveys to help assess how the city is performing and inform city budgets. This ensures that New Yorkers’ input helps drive decisions at City Hall.

If your household has received this notification, do not pass up this rare chance to provide feedback on the quality of life and government services in NYC. Please don’t let this opportunity slip by! Respond now by visiting the provided URL, scanning the QR code on the postcard, or dropping a completed survey in the mail.

For more information, Click Here
NYC Funds Finder

NYC's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and Next Street announced the launch of a new platform connecting small businesses with trusted resources they need to open, grow, and maintain their business. The user-friendly platform – NYC Funds Finder is where small businesses can review funding options, including loans and grants, and request free 1-on-1 financing assistance from the SBS team. 

NYC Funds Finder is a partnership between SBS and Next Street and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Next Street Scale, the platform that powers NYC Funds Finder, was created to address the hurdles that small businesses, especially those run by women and minorities, face in accessing the resources required to grow their business and build wealth. 
LOSS PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

Loss Prevention Technology Survey, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and our partners have issued a brief survey titled, "The Future is Here for Retail Theft Prevention." The survey seeks to understand business needs in the area of retail loss prevention. Take the Survey - Click Here