Details Emerge About Rockland Strategic Intelligence Unit

NEW CITY, NY — Clarkstown town officials say that a joint town-county program with the intriguing name 'Strategic Intelligence Unit' illegally investigated and profiled individuals and groups. Suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe, who oversaw the unit, say it's not so, according to The Journal News.

The unit is at the center of escalating legal battles between the beleaguered chief, the beleaguered town board, a police sergeant and the DA, writes reporter Steve Lieberman in an analysis of the claims and counter-claims.

The Strategic Intelligence Unit started out with a state grant for youth crime prevention, Lieberman reports.

According to TJN, town officials allege that the unit did surveillance on an African-American community group in Haverstraw, local Black Lives Matter activity and Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann; strategized about defeating the Rockland Sheriff in his re-election bid; and targeted a town justice.

However, Lieberman reported, Zugibe called the allegations false.

Read the entire article on lohud.com.

According to the Clarkstown Police Department's 2015 report, the Strategic Intelligence Unit was created in early 2015 by the Town of Clarkstown Police Department and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office as a joint intelligence based operation.

"One of the primary missions of the Unit is to transition the Clarkstown Police Department to an “Intelligence Led Policing” model," the report said.

The unit's former director, Detective Sgt. Stephen Cole-Hatchard, has sued the town for having him reassigned. He said that town Supervisor George Hoehmann was upset about the unit's investigation into contributions to his campaign from a fired police officer.

Meanwhile, one of the town officials' accusations against Sullivan is that he delayed re-assigning Cole-Hatchard after they asked him to.

RELATED:

• Clarkstown Police Sgt. Sues Town Officials: News Report
• Sullivan Denies Charges
• More Charges Filed Against Clarkstown Police Chief
• Chief Sues for Reinstatement

PHOTO/ Clarkstown Police Department Annual Report: Strategic Intelligence Unit