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New commander put in charge of NYSP Troop A

By Howard B. Owens

Major Michael J. Cerretto has been appointed commander of Troop A, NY State Police.

Here is a brief overveiw of his career with the State Police:

Major Michael J. Cerretto, 48, is a Navy veteran with more than 26 years of service with the New York State Police. He started his State Police career in 1987, serving as a uniform trooper in Troop E, Monroe County.

Cerretto was promoted to sergeant in 1991 and was assigned to Troop K, Westchester County. In 1992, Cerretto was transferred to Troop A where he was promoted to the position of Sergeant/Station Commander serving in Wellsville and Batavia.

In 1994, he was assigned as an Investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to work in the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. He received his promotion to Lieutenant in 1996 working as both Uniform and BCI Lieutenant in Troops A and E. He is a graduate of 190th session of the FBI National Academy, in Quantico, Va.

In March 2003, Cerretto was promoted to Captain, accepting an assignment to the Internal Affairs Bureau in Syracuse. He returned to the uniform division in 2005, taking command of the Rochester area in Troop E.

In June 2013, Cerretto returned to Troop A, as the acting Troop Commander, receiving his promotion to Major in July. He is the 22nd Troop Commander in the 96 year history of Troop A.

As Troop A Commander, Cerretto oversees the State Police patrol and investigative operations in the eight (8) counties of Western New York. Under his command will be more than 453 civilian and sworn personnel.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Ken Toal

What is his view of the illegal gun law his boss signed behind closed doors. Will he obey the Constitution or our poor excuse for a Governor?

Aug 13, 2013, 7:55pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

What does it matter Ken, He is sworn to uphold the laws of New York State and the Constitution, until such time as this ridiculous law is found unconstitutional by a court, he has no choice but to enforce it.

I know quite a few people in Law Enforcement, have not found one yet that agrees with this law.

Aug 14, 2013, 12:52am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Unless this ridiculous law is FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a court Ken, because it was voted on by a legislature, and signed by the Governor, It is not yet legally unconstitutional.

You believe it unconstitutional.
I believe it unconstitutional.

In the end, the only belief that counts, is the 9 men and women in robes that make up the supreme court. That IS IN FACT, what our constitution has in place to make that determination.

Nothing that You, I or the Late Great Frank Zappa can say that will change that.

So until such time as a case works it's way up there, or a future legislature and Governor overturn it, it IS THE LAW, as unfortunate as it is for us.

Aug 14, 2013, 9:03pm Permalink
Tim Miller

For better or worse, Mark has the overriding point here.

I have full faith that the courts will overturn the more egregious parts of that law, but until the courts do or the legislature revokes the new law the police are obligated to enforce it.

Aug 15, 2013, 3:04pm Permalink

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