State Police pulling troopers for Occupy Albany


My colleague Jimmy Vielkind reports that State Police have been taking troopers away from assignments around the region to form nightly details at Occupy Albany.

Three demonstrators were arrested Tuesday night for breaking Lafayette Park’s 11 p.m.  A combined 59 protesters were taken into custody Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I covered last night’s arrests and would say there were about 20 troopers on hand.

Vielkind reports:

“Obviously we’ve pulled resources from other places to police the park. As far as overtime, we’ve been trying to work around any overtime for the troopers,” State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said during a cabinet meeting. “It’s unfortunate that maybe other areas would suffer with less troopers, just as it’s important that we maintain order.”

He said it “varies” on the number of troopers involved night-to-night. It appeared approximately 20 troopers were at the park during the first three nights that arrests were made. Twenty-six people were charged with trespass on Saturday, followed by 13 charged with trespass and disorderly conduct on Sunday evening. Another 20 were arrested on Monday evening. Three people were arrested Tuesday evening, prompting D’Amico to clarify that “we had more troopers than demonstrators because our deployment was based on the previous pattern.”

“We wouldn’t compromise our ability to provide police services to any region. So if we had to pay overtime then we’ll pay overtime,” D’Amico said. “We’re not compromising our ability to provide police services in any of the communities we serve. While we respect the demonstrators’ rights to free speech and their rights to demonstrate, we would like them to do it in an orderly and lawful manner, so us enforcing the laws in the park and maintaining order is important.”

Categories: General
Bryan Fitzgerald

89 Responses

  1. bob says:

    It is sad that on one side of this park you have the State Police enforcing the without political bias while on the other side of the park you have the Albany Police Department taking no action because their chief is taking a political position.

    It is pathetic. The Albany Police Chief should resign and run for office if he wants to be a politician otherwise he should do the job he took an oath to do.

    I hope the State Police keep making arrest, even if Soares has the charges dismissed. Just because the DA won’t do his job doesn’t mean the Governor should stop doing his.

  2. Bamster says:

    Happy yet hippies?

  3. DC says:

    Overtime and State troopers taken off their normal assignments to arrest people whose crime is having a big mouth, waste of time money and recources, they would have faded away which is what they were in the process of doing.
    Not really a big deal about the troopers not being on their regular assignments, a few less speeding tickets being issued.

  4. elmer says:


    That is one of the funniest things I have read recently. Honestly–Cuomo is the one acting without a political agenda? That is priceless.

  5. Mike B says:

    So – political leadership pulled policing resources from protecting against threats to public safety to protect against threats to economic power. Really lays bare what the function of police is – to be the army of capitalism against the domestic enemy, democratic people. Anyone who thinks this is a waste of police resources is wrong – you have the wrong priorities in mind. The elite don’t care about public safety, they care about protecting their privilege.

  6. Jeanne says:

    Please print a copy of the law being enforced. How are citizens of the State of New York trespassing on their property? What action(s) were deemed disorderly conduct?

  7. Jango Davis says:

    Stay strong my occupying brothers and sisters. The right to free speech and the right to assemble are among our most sacred rights as citizens. The president’s response to deal with student loans is directly becasue of your actions.

    And yes, we hippies are happy, very happy! If you neo-cons, TPers, and crypto-nazi wacko right wing radio talk show hosts hate the occupiers so much, then they MUST be doing something right!

    My fellow American occupiers, you are not just a part of history, you are making history…

  8. Fools says:

    These losers should be protesting in Washington DC. Protest the millionaire Obama. He’s the one appointing GE as a jobs czar and making sure they don’t pay a penny in taxes. These OWS protesters apparently are as uninformed as they come. The companies don’t make the rules, the Congressman, Senators and President who get kickbacks from them are the ones that they should be protesting.

    And, get a job and quit forcing the taxpayers to pay overtime to these police to deal with this bogus OWS movement. All the protesters should pay for this stupid overtime.

    Go to Washington to protest or go to WORK!

  9. Russell says:

    If we weren’t trying to arrest people for peaceable assembly (protected under the 1st amendment) we wouldn’t have to pull troopers from elsewhere.

    I think its a laughable idea that the troopers are arresting them without bias. Why else arrest them? For a made-up curfew?

    And yes, Bob, I imagine they are happy.

  10. Celia Murray says:

    Both sides, City and the State Police, are enforcing the law. The State Police are enforcing a written guideline that was first set out about a week ago, but it could be regarded as an enacted law because of the nature of that park. The City is acting on a well-researched precedent that has the same effect as the law once things start being argued in Court. The biggest difference between the two situations is the embarrassment factor.
    Cuomo’s people let it be known publicly that he wanted the to City to arrest people before they had a thorough conversation with the City to confirm that was what the local officials felt was the best course. The lack of consultation from the Governor’s side made them look like they were being dictatorial, and unsuccessfully so, towards the City in which they reside.
    The DA and the police on the City side thought about the best course before they talked to the newspapers, and came to a different conclusion than the Governor’s office. People may not agree with that conclusion, but the City does not come off looking like their first impulse was to get a headline out of the Occupation folks.
    It is particularly amusing now that the biggest support for the Governor’s position is coming from leading Republicans. Between that and his refusal to even consider continuing the millionare’s tax in the face of a deepening deficit, with no evidence that any millionaires have been leaving the state over this tax, it is pretty clear who he trying to please for a potential national run.

  11. Rusty says:

    I first figured just let them stay there and eventually they’ll get tired and go home, because no one is paying attention to them anyway. Then I realized this is like camping to a bunch of hippies who think they are part of a revolution, yet 8 out of 10 of them probably can’t articulate a single thought that makes sense as to why they are there. So, it’s time to take our public space back.

  12. Albert J says:

    Ignoring bad behavior has never done anything but encourage more bad behavior. I don’t live, or vote, in Albany, but I truly hope Soares time is up.

  13. GreenClown says:

    With that kind of presence, the State Police are now effectively occupying Lafayette Park. What’s the point? Apparently the governor is so thin-skinned he cannot stand a minor showing of dissent within spitting distance of his throne.

  14. TheHippies says:


  15. Lee says:

    In the absence of any violence I am certain the police presence could be elsewhere. It is “conservatives” who want the police state, so don’t complain about paying for the overtime for the unnecessary police presence down there.

  16. Tom Boderman says:

    Good! That means fewer of these idiots handing out tickets!

  17. Russell says:

    I’m sure if it was a tea party protest, Bob, Bamster and others would be upset with the troopers and happy with David Soares.

  18. Brian says:

    About time–we don’t need to pay state troopers $50 an hour (pay and benefits) to stand around or sit around for a shift–20 troopers–are you telling me we’ve spent a thousand a day on this nonsense?! If the Albany cops can’t handle it they’ll call you–otherwise start looking into real crimes like animal neglect and cruelty.

    I see they still have a trooper stuck in the entrance of the convention center–is that punishment duty or reward duty? In either case we don’t need anybody sitting around there either. Does it make a difference if I tell you it was a female officer the day I was there?
    Put a guy in there and pay him $15 an hour–he’ll call somebody if there’s a problem–Albany cops are like 30 seconds away.

    The Tea Party blog’s all over this btw.

  19. John Hacbeth says:

    Hey Lee, have you been through the park lately? If you haven’t let me tell tell it stinks of urine from the port a potties. Litter is strewn about everywhere and there are makeshift shelving in parts of the park. The first amendment permits the right to free assembly and free speech, however it does not protect against occupation of public property. If I wanted to sit in the park and enjoy my lunch, I could not because the stench is overwhelming. The Occupiers have hijacked the First Amendment and it’s shameful.

  20. TEP says:

    #1 Bob, #8,#11,#12- RIGHT ON. Get these ignorant fools out of our parks. It is an embarrassment to this city, this state, this country.

  21. TheHippies says:

    Ok, maybe we are kind’a sort’a happy, but we have a long way to go. Let’s start with legalizing weed and we can go from their, deal?

  22. Frederick Pheiffer says:

    The NYS Troopers are professional and incredibly skilled in their jobs. The D.A. Soares is insulting them & the residents of Albany and our area.. He was elected to enforce the law. Shame on you D.A.
    It is a waste of great manpower to have our State Police put into this situation.
    I would imagine that Mayor Corning is rolling over in his grave!

  23. Chris says:

    “From the early days of my campaign, I have said we need to bring the people back into government,” Governor Cuomo said. You titled your campaign as the “People First Campaign, looks to me as you lied. Ya right, people have the right to protest and Cuomo wants to enforce a lame curfew law. This goes to show who he really supports and it’s not the people of New York, it’s obviously the 1%. What real harm would come from Occupy Albany protesters being in Lafayette Park after 11 pm? NONE!!!!

    Why do people in government have such a problem when people express their first amendment right to free speech? When speech critical of the government? Mr. Cuomo, if you were truly

    Mr. Cuomo, you may stop the use of Lafayette Park but get this “You will never stop the people from wanting and achieving the change we rightly deserve and which we will eventually get. Albany County Republican Party Chairman Don Clarey, who the hell do you think you are? Your another one who wants to squash our rights, do us a favor and go bury your head in the sand.


  24. Will says:

    If the Occuppy protesters spent as much time trying to find a job as they are sponging off hard working people and wasting taxpayer resources, they might be gainfully employed in a productive career….not likely for most with no ambition, drive or desire……..

  25. iPayTaxes says:

    Occupy a job and contribute to society…

  26. Horace says:

    #6 Jeanne, your question as to what actions were deemed disorderly conduct my guess would be the NYSP is using NYS Penal Law charge of Disorderly Conduct section 240.20-6 which states He congregates with other persons in a public place and refuses to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse.

  27. JG says:

    So, we are told drunk driving is an epidemic, troopers who would be roaming the roads looking for drunk drivers at 11 pm are arresting people for trespassing in a fairly well-lit public park. Now, when they are booked, the DA won’t prosecute, so they get arrested the next night and the cycle keeps continuing.

    And King Andrew has a commission that is looking to cut waste in government? What am i missing? Wouldn’t be more cost effective to ignore the protesters? Maybe post a few cameras in there to see if they are selling drugs or something else unsavory?

  28. lucky says:

    If the New York State workers have to take a pay cut and no over time. The State Troopers after puting our flag on the ground last weekend should not be given over time make them get back to their jobs where their are needed not making the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo look good. Its time for the State Troopers make up for what the did in the past and for now on!!!

  29. John R says:

    People need to recall that a curfew is not needed for trespassing. A landowner can ask anyone to leave at any time. If they fail to leave they can be arrested for trespass, hence the announcements the troopers are marking. These people need to go home and get jobs, maybe the could be the DA they don’t do anything either.

  30. Jeff says:

    Get a job!!!!