Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr. is pleased to announce the appointment of Diana M. Prinzi to the position of Program Coordinator at Genesee Justice, a  division of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Mrs. Prinzi is a retired, 22-year veteran of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement where she held the positions of Detention Officer, Lead Detention Officer, Deputy Chief, Deportation Officer, Supervising Deportation Officer, and Assistant Field Office Director.

Mrs. Prinzi is a Batavia native and a 1986 graduate of Notre Dame High School. In 1990, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Criminal Justice, from SUNY Brockport. She resides in Genesee County with her husband, Samuel. Diana was recently hired in February of this year as a part-time Community Services/Victim Assistant at Genesee Justice.

"I am excited to have someone with such character and experience lead Genesee Justice and look forward to working with Diana. She will assume the duties of Program Coordinator as of January 3, 2022," stated Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.

This Friday, Sept. 14th, the Batavia Blue Devils Football Team and its supporters would like to recognize all those who have worn or currently wear a military or first responder uniform by inviting them to come to the home game.

Any military personnel, police officer, firefighter or first responder will get free admission (with proof of ID) as well as a complementary hot dog and drink. They will also be seated in the end zone; and to thank them for their service, they will be honored at approximately 7:15 p.m. prior to the start of the game.

Vandetta Stadium is located at 120 Richmond Avenue in the City of Batavia.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Batavia/Genesee Police and Fire Hockey Team participated in the third annual 2018 Police and Fire Ice Hockey Tournament in Buffalo this past weekend.

Twenty teams participated in the tourney, coming to Buffalo from as far south as South Carolina, and as far north as London, Ontario, Canada.

It was another enjoyable, face-paced weekend for our local boys, who played against teams from Canada, Erie County, and Homeland Security.

All our thanks to those who came out and cheered us on! The team was once again sponsored this year by Ken’s Charcoal Pits & BBQ, with many thanks going to Ken Mistler.

He is also accused of first-degree criminal use of a firearm for allegedly possessing a loaded weapon during the commission of a crime, even though the weapon was allegedly found on the other defendant, 18-year-old Nathaniel R. Davis. Both are Class B violent felonies. The Davis case is still pending. They are also accused of fourth-degree conspiracy.

During opening statements this morning, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman told jurors that two people were seen running out of the house.

"On January 14 of this year, a resident at (X) Park Ave., Batavia, was looking out her window and noticed two people go up the driveway of (X) Park Ave., go around the back part of the house and break in," Friedman said. "She then called 9-1-1 to report the incident."

According to a witness, two people ran out the back in a southwesterly direction along a path behind St. Paul's Lutheran Church. WIth law enforcement converging on the scene, the duo split up -- one ran east toward State Street and the other ran west toward Lewis Avenue.

Davis, who ran east, was apprehended immediately. Simmons, on the other hand, was chased by police and lost during the chase. When officers failed to catch him a manhunt ensued with Batavia PD, the Sheriff's Office, State Police, a K-9 and a helicopter. He was apprehended in about 45 minutes.

Deputy Brian Thompson and his K-9 Pharoah found Simmons hiding under a tarp at a nearby residence, Friedman told the jurors. Furthermore, a black hoodie, gloves, a black and white bandana, and a baseball hat with red trim on the brim, was also found in Simmons' possession.

According to the DA, when Simmons was interviewed, he gave alternate excuses of why he was running from police and denied knowing Davis.

"Search warrants for both men's phones found that Davis had a contact nicknamed Kemo," Friedman said. "Upon investigation, it was found that the number in Davis' phone belonged to Simmons. This suggests that the phone evidence links Simmons to Davis, as well as the crime committed."

He wound up his opening statement telling jurors that testimony from Davis is a possibility.

"Davis's credibility will be attacked," Friedman said. "Don't get hung up on Davis, listen to the proof to find the defendant guilty of the crime."

While they didn't get a chance to steal anything, according to a previous statement by a detective in the case, it is still burglary by virtue of the two breaking into the house with the intent to commit larceny.

"When all is said and done and the proof is in," Friedman said. "I will ask the jury, based on the evidence, to find Simmons guilty as charged."

Subsequently, Defense Attorney Thomas A. Burns told jurors that it makes perfect sense that they were told that opening statements are not evidence.

"Consider the court process, listen to the facts of the testimony and evidence to prove that Simmons did not commit the crime he is charged with," Burns said.

The defense attorney told the jurors to keep an open mind and see the evidence showing Davis, alone, entered the house; it was Davis who was apprehended running away from the house, and it was Davis who was Tased and when that did not stop him, it was Davis who was tackled by police.

In addition, Davis was also found with a loaded weapon -- which, when examined by police, was found to be capable of causing injury or death -- plus a screwdriver, Burns continued. And upon examination of the gun, no DNA links Simmons to the weapon, nor do any of the fingerprints found on it.

"The neighbor will testify that she saw two people at the Park Avenue home, yet she cannot describe them," Burns said. "She told police that she heard a sound of two people going in and coming out."

Burns also informed the jury that at the time Simmons was found, he had an outstanding parole warrant.

"The people have the burden of proof in this case," the defense attorney said. "If you listen to Davis's testimony, not only listen to what he is saying, listen to what is behind what he is saying.

"You are asked to judge the credibility of people. Davis is not on trial at this point, Simmons is," he continued. "When you hear all the evidence, at the conclusion I ask that you return a verdict of not guilty."

Testimony continues today with Judge Robert Noonan presiding.

Ceremonies were held Friday to honor those police officers who have died in the line of duty. Representatives from the state and county were on hand to give tribute to their fallen comrades at Pembroke Town Park.

The Batavia Police Department dispatch office is experiencing a problem with one of the secondary nonemergency phone numbers. For police emergencies the public should call 9-1-1.

To reach police dispatch for nonemergencies, the public should call 345-6350. If a dispatcher does not answer the 345-6350 number the public can re-call 343-5000 to reach a Batavia Police dispatcher.

The administrative number for police headquarters remains the same 345-6444.

The 30-member union rejected the proposed contract negotiated by its leadership with city officials that included a 2.25 percent annual pay increase retroactive to 2007.

The proposed contract would have ran through March 2013.

Sources told WBTA that the contract included some health benefit concessions.

"Both parties worked hard to come to an agreement and I think we both thought it was OK," said City Manager Jason Molino.  "It’s unfortunate it wasn’t accepted."

Molino could not confirm the details of the rejected agreement.

We left a message asking for comment from PBA president Dan Coffey at his work number yesterday and haven't heard back from him yet.

An arbitration panel will consider police officers' pay in comparably sized communities, the positions of members and the city, as well as a community's ability to pay.

Molino said this is likely the first time a police contract has come before an arbitration panel since the state passed a property tax cap.

The cap could greatly impact a municipality's ability to adjust its budget to absorb union contract costs, but it's unclear if the cap will be an issue in this case.

"You would think the panel would consider it, but each arbitration is different and each panel is different," Molino said. 

The arbitration panel meeting is held in secret. It could be months before a decision is announced.

Under terms of the Taylor Law, when police and fire unions are unable to reach an agreement with government agencies, the dispute must be decided by an arbitration panel. Other government unions do not enjoy automatic arbitration and must reach a negotiated agreement.

Hervey, who's only apparent criminal record is a traffic ticket or two, and who was not known to police as a drug user, was apparently coerced into becoming a snitch -- going undercover to help catch drug dealers.

Now, there is little disagreement that illegal drug dealing is a bad thing, but the News rightly editorializes against the Village of Attica Police Department for employing tactics that sound much like those used by the Stasi, the East German Secret Police.

... the apparent drafting of a neophyte drug informant is not only cruel behavior, it is astoundingly bad police work. If the relevant officials are unwilling to strongly renounce what could have been an anomalous misstep in an otherwise professionally run operation, then their own professional judgment must be called into serious question.

The idea that law enforcement officers chasing drug dealers can do absolutely anything they want is itself a kind of drug, one that is as addictive and as destructive of society as any amount of heroin or cocaine.

Hervey was saved the fate of entering an underground world she knows nothing about because her attorney father was able to intervene, but the News reports an unnamed young man was not so fortunate, and now he fears for his safety.

Officer Christopher Graham, who is also the officer accused of trying to recruit Hervey into undercover work, reportedly told the young man that the minor charges against him could keep him out of the military. He offered the youth a way out -- help catch a drug dealer. The young man followed through, according to the News, but when the police asked him to get involved in a second drug deal, the informant refused to cooperate. A short time later, he was arrested for failure to appear on the original charges.

Informants are used by law enforcement all the time. It was an informant that helped local law enforcement break up an apparent meth ring here in Genesee County last week. But reliable informants are usually people who step forward on their own because they know something, or are people recruited from the drug world they already know. 

It seems to smack of incredibly poor judgment and an abuse of power to try and recruit informants from among young people who have little experience either in the drug world or in dealing with the criminal justice system. We trust our local law enforcement officers use better judgment.

***NOTICE OF PUBLIC EVENT***

HAWLEY TO HOST FREE CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK ON JULY 11

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) will be hosting a free car seat safety check on Saturday, July 11, from 10 am to 1 pm, at the Albion Fire Hall.  All are invited to attend this important public safety event.

“Despite parents’ best intentions, statistics show that 70 percent of car seats are installed improperly.  I would like to encourage all parents to attend this important event and would like to thank the New York State Police for coming to make sure car seats are properly installed,” said Hawley.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s Car Seat Safety Check

Hosted in conjunction with the New York State Police

Saturday, July 11, 2009

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Albion Fire Hall

108 North Platt Street

Albion, NY 

RSVP by calling Assemblyman Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780

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