fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
Hudson Valley One
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Town of Ulster releases video of county legislator’s traffic stop

by Hugh Reynolds
November 20, 2017
in Politics & Government
50
Town of Ulster considers releasing recording of legislator’s traffic stop

The long-suppressed videotape detailing with what one police officer called “a routine traffic stop” four months ago finally saw the light of public scrutiny Tuesday night. The tape was from a police patrol car dash cam which recorded the exchange between county legislator Jennifer Schwartz Berky and officer Gary Short in the Town of Ulster shortly before 7 p.m. in the Aldi’s parking lot on May 24.

Berky’s lawyers sought to suppress the dash cam on the grounds that it would compromise her chances for a fair trial. The town board, acting on the advice of the state’s Freedom of Information office and town attorney Jason Kovacs, voted 4-0 Tuesday night to release the tape. Councilman Joel Brink was absent.

Town supervisor Jim Quigley had ruled that only those who had FOILed the dash cam would receive copies. Berky requested a copy, but was not in attendance during the 30-minute special town-board meeting. Recipients of the tape are free to distribute it as they choose.

Berky was due in town court on June 14, but did not appear and did not contact the court. She did not appear for hearings in July or August. Her attorneys represented her at town board meetings on October 16 and 23. Berky has a trial date in town court, if she so chooses, for November 20.

Joe O’Connor, Berky’s lawyer at the special session, told the town board that releasing the video might expose the town to “hundreds of requests” for such videos at an expense (with police officers appearing in court) of “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

O’Connor said he would discuss with his client whether she wants to appeal the town’s decision.

Related:

County legislator apologizes for behavior at traffic stop shown in video

The tape shows Short approaching Berky’s Prius in the Aldi’s parking lot after following her for about a quarter-mile from the intersection of Ulster Avenue and Morton Boulevard onto Route 9W. On audio she is heard asking the officer why she was being stopped. He tells her it’s for speeding, 43 miles per hour in 30-miles-per-hour zone.

Berky told him she never speeds and was driving with traffic. She said she was headed home to feed her young son and had a job interview in downtown Kingston. Sounding increasingly agitated, she said she could not afford a traffic ticket as it will increase her cost of insurance. She says she was “broke.”

Short went back to his patrol car to write a ticket. Berky stepped out of her car, apparently gasping for air and bent over double. Short returned and inquired about her health. She said she was having “a panic attack.” Short asked whether she wanted medical assistance. She did not reply, but seemed to be breathing better.

Short returned and offered to write a ticket for failure to wear a seatbelt, a much lesser offense than speeding. Berky told him she always wears her seatbelt and refused the offer. Short then wrote the speeding ticket.

At about halfway through the 26-minute incident, Ulster officer Kevin Woltman appeared to inquire as to Short’s status. The officers chatted briefly and he leaves. Woltman is the nephew of Brian Woltman, Berky’s Republican opponent in the November 7 election.

As Short issued her the speeding ticket, Berky was heard to say, “I don’t trust you. I don’t feel safe here. Tell me what my rights are. I didn’t understand.”

“I’ve explained everything to you,” Short replied, his voice reflecting exasperation. “I’m not going to argue with you any longer.”

Berky, in private, has claimed she was harassed by the officer, but has not filed a formal complaint. He lawyers did not raise that issue.

Her attorneys did cite cited unspecified “politics” by the 4-1 Republican town board against Berky, a Democrat.

Rocco Secreto, the board’s lone Democrat, voted with majority Republicans Tuesday night. “Politics had nothing to do with it,” he said.

Town police chief Kyle Berardi defended his officers against allegations of politics.

“For one thing, my people don’t pay a lot of attention to politics,” he said. “I doubt if he knew who she was, or cared if he did. That said, if it was politics, it would have been dealt with. That’s not the kind of thing we allow in this department.”

Berky defeated Woltman 352-172 in a Democratic primary in 2015. She polled 1330 votes without opposition in the general election. Woltman, a purchasing agent at city hall, is now an enrolled Republican, according to the board of elections. Berky, an urban planner and former county deputy planner, owns a consulting business.


Edited for time and relevance. Full video here.

Thank you for reading Hudson Valley One. We rely on your support to continue providing local, substantive news. Please check out our subscription options to keep local journalism alive in the Hudson Valley.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Police seize more than $2m worth of marijuana and cocaine in big Poughkeepsie drug bust

Next Post

New Paltz and Saugerties to host Narcan training

Hugh Reynolds

Related Posts

Just a couple more interviews for Police Commission
Politics & Government

Just a couple more interviews for Police Commission

May 14, 2022
New Paltz edges closer to welcoming members of the public back to gathering in the new justice center
Politics & Government

See you at the Justice Center

May 14, 2022
Donna Smith to replace Jewell Turner as Gardiner’s deputy town clerk
Politics & Government

Gardiner reappoints Hoiby to OSC, confirms Terwilliger as BI/CEO

May 13, 2022
Woodland Pond application complicated by a 2007 lawsuit settlement
Business

Woodland Pond application complicated by a 2007 lawsuit settlement

May 11, 2022
Affordable housing at old Ulster County Jail opposed by neighbors
Politics & Government

Legislature committee fails to advance jail demolition

May 11, 2022
Donna Smith to replace Jewell Turner as Gardiner’s deputy town clerk
Politics & Government

After 3-year review, Gardiner adopts updated Comprehensive Plan

May 10, 2022
Next Post
New Paltz and Saugerties to host Narcan training

New Paltz and Saugerties to host Narcan training

Please login to join discussion

Trending News

  • Bubbe’s Deli opens in Gardiner’s former Mountain Harbor 1.5k views
  • Woodstock Library bond passes 1k views
  • Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance 0.9k views
  • The moon is down in Central Hudson 642 views
  • D&H Canal Museum in High Falls poised for June 18 Grand Opening 428 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
61°
Partly Cloudy
5:33am8:11pm EDT
Feels like: 61°F
Wind: 4mph WNW
Humidity: 95%
Pressure: 29.56"Hg
UV index: 0
TueWedThu
72/46°F
73/52°F
70/52°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • #47632 (no title)
  • A very special, members-only message
  • Account and membership info
  • Ad Setup Overview
  • Advertise in Hudson Valley Health
  • Advertisement: Expert Tree Service
  • Almanac Weekly E-Subscription
  • Celebrating 50 Years
  • Columbus Day Subscription Sale
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Curbside Pickup & Delivery
  • Edit profile
  • General Assignment Reporter
  • Gift Subscription
  • Give the Gift of Community
  • Holiday Gift Subscription
  • Hudson Valley Employment Opportunities
  • Hudson Valley One E-Paper
  • HV1 Account Details
  • Jobs
  • Join HV1 Premium
  • Kingston Times (Subscriber view)
  • Kingston Times E-Subscription
  • Legal Notice
  • Legal Notice: 2-lot subdivision
  • Mailchimp RSS
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • My HV1 Account
  • New Paltz Times E-Subscription
  • New Paltz Times subscriber view
  • One Day University
  • Place a classified ad
  • Print subscribers
  • Publisher’s note
  • Read Special Sections
  • Real Estate Guide 2020
  • Register
  • Renew your Premium Web Subscription
  • Renewals
  • Restrict Content Pro (RCP) overview
  • Saugerties Times E-Subscription
  • Saugerties Times subscriber view
  • Six-month trial e-subscription
  • Snow Emergency Declared
  • Sponsored content: 147th Kentucky Derby: Top Horses in the Current Ranking
  • Sponsored content: 5 Ways to Rebuild Your Business After COVID-19
  • Sponsored content: A Gardening Guide: 5 of the Best Plants to Grow
  • Sponsored content: Alternatives to Casinos in New York
  • Sponsored content: Bad Credit? Here’s How to Get A Loan
  • Sponsored content: Beginner Striper Fishing
  • Sponsored content: Credit Union Application And Factors That Help Even With Bad Credit History
  • Sponsored content: Do Mail-Order Pharmacies Help You Save Cash on Prescription Drugs?
  • Sponsored content: Five Reasons Why Travel Is Good For Your Mental Health
  • Sponsored content: Horse Race Betting
  • Sponsored content: How to Rebuild Bad Credit and How Long It Will Take
  • Sponsored content: Kentucky Derby Horse Racing Odds Explained
  • Sponsored content: NCAA Men’s College Basketball Betting Futures
  • Sponsored content: Personal Loans — Why Should You Get One?
  • Sponsored Content: Publish Your Book – Here’s How!
  • Sponsored content: Soup-er Douper Soups
  • Sponsored content: Tips You Need to Know in Managing Your Debt
  • Sponsored content: What You Need to Know in Getting a Home Warranty
  • Sponsored content: Where to Play and Win Bingo in Hudson Valley
  • Sponsored content: Who Will Win the Stanley Cup 2022?
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sponsored: Elect Vincent Altieri for Saugerties Town Council
  • Sponsored: Vote John Schoonmaker
  • Submit a letter to the editor
  • Submit a press release or story idea
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe to HV1
  • Subscribe to HV1 Digital
  • Subscribe to HV1 Digital & Get First Month for $1
  • Subscribe to HV1 Print
  • Subscribe to HV1 Print + Digital
  • Subscription Information & FAQ
  • Subscriptions offer
  • Success
  • Summer Camp Guide
  • Summer Camp Guide 2020
  • Support
  • The path forward: Publisher’s letter from Geddy Sveikauskas
  • The right to disappear
  • Tutorials
    • Simplify the Edit Post Screen
    • Updating the Sites (plugins & themes)
    • Using Mailchimp
  • Update payment info
  • Uploading Tips (Editorial)
  • Users
  • View your e-subscription
  • We’re back in print
  • Weekly pdf notification in iContact
  • Where to buy Hudson Valley One
  • Where’s my paper?
  • Woodstock Times E-Subscription
  • Woodstock Times subscriber view
  • You’re invited!
  • Your subscription
  • Kids’ Classes and Programs
  • About
  • Advertise in Healthy Hudson Valley: Healthy Body & Mind
  • Advertise in our Holiday Gift Guide
  • Online Holiday Gift Guide
  • No Access
  • Back to School Guide
  • Contributors
  • Advertise in Celebrations of Love
  • Sample Page
  • Subscribe to Saugerties Times
  • Subscribe to Kingston Times
  • Subscribe to New Paltz Times
  • Subscribe to Woodstock Times
  • Special Sections
    • Advertise in Home Hudson Valley: Spring Home Improvement
    • Advertise in Home Hudson Valley: Home, Lawn & Garden
    • Advertise in Healthy Hudson Valley: HV Health Magazine
    • Advertise in Healthy Hudson Valley: Healthy Communities
    • Advertise in Explore Hudson Valley: Summer in the Valley
    • Advertise in Healthy Hudson Valley: Health, Sports and Fitness
    • Advertise in our Taste of New Paltz guide
    • Advertise in Home Hudson Valley: Fall Home Improvement
    • Advertise in Explore Hudson Valley: Spring in the Valley
    • Advertise in the Back to School Guide
    • Advertise in Explore Hudson Valley: Fall in the Valley
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Browse by paper:
  • Newsletters
  • Our Newsletters
  • Summer camp guide
  • Real Estate Guide
  • Subscribe to the Kingston Times newsletter
  • Our newsletters
  • Advertise in Explore Hudson Valley: A Wintry Mix
  • Uploads
  • Correction
  • Tags
  • Uploading info
  • Test page
  • Test Page for Landing

© 2022 Ulster Publishing