Security changes likely for governor
June 12, 2008
State Police are poised to propose legislation that would give officers more authority over where the governor could or couldn’t go.
That comes as State Police are reported to be overhauling the way members of the governor’s security detail are chosen.
Police officials wouldn’t comment, but The New York Times said Wednesday that the agency’s superintendent, rather than the governor, will select the head of the executive services detail — which includes gubernatorial bodyguards.
The upcoming changes are the result of an internal audit of the executive detail ordered by recently appointed Superintendent Harry Corbitt. They also come as Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, at the request of Gov. David Paterson, is looking at whether State Police engaged in political interference over the years.
“It’s a good change. I definitely think it’s an improvement,” Matt Tynan, president of the State Police Investigators union said, referring to the imminent overhaul of the executive detail.
That is part of an effort to move beyond what has been criticized as a political system in which members of the detail can be chosen as much for their connections to the governor and his inner circle as for their security skills.
Additionally, the Times Union has learned that State Police may propose legislation that would allow bodyguards, in rare cases, to override the governor’s travel plans if security officials determine there are pressing dangers.
Daniel De Federicis, president of the State Police PBA, said he has heard the changes are a possibility, but no specific legislation has been proposed.
The person familiar with the proposal pointed to the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack during which then-Gov. George Pataki was said to have demanded that State Police rush him to ground zero.
While police eventually convinced the governor to wait, by law Pataki could have compelled the police to take him there.
Under the potential change, the governor’s bodyguards could veto such a trip.
Source: Times Union
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