WCDO Radio News

A Delaware County Grand Jury handed down Sealed Indictments last Thursday relating to 4 separate narcotics trafficking investigations conducted by members of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Unit. Sheriff's Office Investigators and Deputies arrested 30-year-old Gregory Shamus of Delhi, 28-year-old Cody Warner of Trout Creek, 31-year-old Patrick Ford of Delancey, & 38-year-old Jennifer Fogliano of Masonville on Sealed Indictment Arrest Warrants on a variety drug charges. All of the defendants were arraigned today in Delaware County Court and were remanded to the Delaware County Jail without bail pending further court action.

Governor Cuomo Announced a multi-agency enforcement initiative to target potentially illegal interstate charter and tour bus companies operating in the State to remove unsafe vehicles and drivers from the roads during the holiday season. The State DOT, DMV & State Police will increase the frequency of random roadside inspections of interstate charter and tour buses, their efforts have already resulted in 112 unsafe buses and 96 unqualified drivers being taken off the road after 1,115 roadside bus inspections performed since mid-September.

State Police Superintendent George Beach has promoted Captain William McEvoy to the rank of Major and has assigned him to the position of Troop Commander at Troop C in Sidney. Major McEvoy started his career in 1984 as a trooper and was first assigned to Troop C; in 1989 McEvoy was promoted to Investigator and assigned to the Drug Enforcement Task Force in New York City. In 1991, he returned to Troop C, where he spent the majority of his years with the State Police, his most recent assignment was BCI Captain.

The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will host the "Opioid Crisis Enters the Workplace" presentation today in Oneonta. The event will be held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center starting at 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM. Local experts in the field of Drug Addiction, as well as Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig & State Senator Jim Seward will speak at this event.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the appointment of Pete Lopez to become Regional Administrator for Region 2. Lopez will oversee environmental protection efforts in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lopez has served as a member of the New York State Assembly since 2007.

Sidney Village Police arrested 22-year-old Christopher Schoonmaker of Sidney, following an investigation into illegal drug sales in Sidney. Schoonmaker was charged with criminal sale of marijuana, he was remanded to the Delaware county jail on $4,000 cash bail pending future court action.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is calling in the Drug Enforcement Agency to commit to providing New York State with 1 of 4 special heroin enforcement groups being delivered to states suffering from heroin abuse. Schumer said the recent numbers of heroin busts, overdoses and heavy local drug enforcement costs demand more federal resources as soon as possible. New York's heroin overdose death rate increased by 30 percent in 2015.

New York Correctional system workers who have died in the line of duty are being honored. 43 state prison system employees have died on the job since 1861, are being remembered today at a ceremony in Albany, also 5 employees are being honored for outstanding service at the Albany Training academy. Also, the agency's Canine Unit is being recognized today, for detecting contraband being smuggled into prisons.

State Senator Jim Seward announced senate passage of a package of bills to try to decrease heroin deaths and put drug dealers behind bars for selling opioids and synthetic drugs:

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The package of bills would build upon existing laws by focusing on enforcement to hold drug dealers more accountable, improve regulation of synthetic opioids, and improve the state's treatment programs to help assist individuals with recovery, among other measures. The bills were sent to the Assembly for consideration.