Shown above is in-car police footage of the December 2007 alleged beating and kicking of drunken driving suspect Donald Randolph in a McDonald’s parking lot on Union Street in Schenectady. The video is embedded from the Times Union website.
One of the officers involved, Gregory Hafensteiner, eventually resigned from the Schenectady Police Department for his involvement instead of being fired. He recently was hired by the Amsterdam Police Department. In the video, Hafensteiner is the officer who opens the passenger side door of the vehicle, appearing to kick Randolph three times, connecting twice.
Amsterdam Police Chief Thomas Brownell said the officer’s past was taken into consideration during the interview process, and Hafensteiner was the most qualified for the job.
Quick take: Brownell says you really can’t condemn a guy for making one mistake, and that the officer doesn’t have a history of brutality and that Hafensteiner comes highly recommended. It looks like he got caught up in a recent wave where Schenectady basically cleaned house. Seems like he deserves another chance.
September 7, 2010
Second chance
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Ahh, I remember this like yesterday… readers should also note:
-there was a very big and credible threat of a civil rights suit attached to this guy (although I couldn’t find anything in court database database, and I’m unsure of the disposition)
-this guy was drawing a whopping $70k/YEAR with Schenectady as of 2008/2009; Lord knows what Brownell is paying him
I am BAFFLED that a ‘rookie’ wasn’t chosen over this veteran with a base at about HALF the cost, although with Brownell’s marvelous spending record, not really all that surprised. And I’m also sure the union had and will continue to serve its member very nicely as the Teflon officer laughs all the way to the bank.
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 7, 2010 @ 8:10 pm |
“Of the seven people we interviewed, one was just far and away the best candidate…” – who were the six others, drug cartel members?
“Brownell acknowledged that Hafensteiner’s behavior depicted in the video showed a lapse in judgment,” – a lapse in judgment? Can I use that excuse when a client threatens to sue me for malpractice? Can my little sister use that to wriggle out of the speeding ticket she got in the spring? Could my 67-year-old neighbor have used that when Officer ‘S. M.’ gave him a ticket for leaving his car idle in the driveway to warm up on a cold winter morning?
“I like to think we’re a little more willing to look at the big picture.” – actually, it must have been a pretty small picture considering you failed to look hard enough at the six other candidates
In reading the Recorder’s article, and combining the statements made here with those made in the early stages of both Ottati and Kercado cases, I’ll continue to say Tom Brownell needs a p.r. guy.
Also, why is the the UNION president involved in the interview process…?
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 8, 2010 @ 1:38 am |
In both posts, you cite too much union involvement and, I hate to say this, I agree with you. But you should look beyond just the city of Amsterdam. To the best of my knowledge, they city is required to involve the union in these things. Might want to check who supported this kind of action. I will give you one hint: “a city treasure”
Comment by JerryRL — September 8, 2010 @ 7:41 am |
Forget everything else…why are we not hiring a young step one guy who we can pay starting police officer pay? Why are we hiring a vet guy from another city who due to union regulations we must now pay at his current step rate despite him likely being fired from Schenectady PD but he resigned before they could? Our city is in fiscal crisis, does it not behoove us to try to save money on salaries and hire an officer with less experience and therefore commands a lower starting salary who we can train ourselves? I am confused….
Comment by Ann Peconie — September 8, 2010 @ 8:56 am |
This is a civil service job and yes they were involved in the interviewing process.
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 9:18 am |
It’s hard to pass judgement when we don’t know the details of the other applicants. Bye the way, we did just hire and send three “rookies” to school.
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 9:32 am |
SIX others? Really? Not one of those guys was better? or even slightly ‘under’qualified but without the extra baggage and certainly the huge liability? Also my comment #1 above was written BEFORE the article containing ‘rookie’ information was published
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 8, 2010 @ 10:45 am |
Tatum, That’s right. This guy was deemed the best candidate for the position. All applicants were scrutinized through civil service and he’s the one they felt was the best choice.
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
Mag,
You seem to have personal knowledge of the situation and the ‘scrutiny’, how nice for you to grace us.
Also, was deemed the ‘best candidate’ by a group that includes a guy that poses a risk to the City’s bank account…
Clearly there’s no rhyme or reason with your logic, nor did you bother to take into consideration salaries or the fact that this is poses a huge liability to the City- nope, not a problem at all.
(Remember Larry Borwat? Former MCSO deputy who left for Schenectady PD after one too many complaints, including harassment…? Remember Mike Parillo?)
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 8, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
I believe that IF he has been out of a civil service position for more than a year, he doesnt have to be hired at the grade he was at in Schenectady. Anyone know the rules on that? If it is true, I would assume he is being hired at a much lower scale.
Comment by JerryRL — September 8, 2010 @ 9:35 pm
JerryRL — As an experienced police officer, under the collective bargaining agreement he will carry over his law enforcement history and be paid as though he worked for the City of Amsterdam through his career. For example, if he has three years experience he will receive the same pay as a three year veteran of the APD.
Comment by Robert N. Going — September 8, 2010 @ 11:14 pm
JerryRL,
If you’d have read the article (and done the salary search which confirms he was paid for a time during 2010) you would have know that he quit SPD in May…so it’s within a year regardless.
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 8, 2010 @ 11:18 pm
Its always good to have an experienced officer for marijuana busts jay walking incidents
Comment by stan — September 8, 2010 @ 10:20 am |
Hey Tatum, why do you always have to find a way to belittle someone or reply with sarcasm? Are you really that insecure? Is that why you hide behind a “fictitous” name?… Anyway, so what if I do have personal knowledge of the situation? Does that bother you? Guess what? TOO BAD! “My logic”??? What are you talking about? I didn’t have anything to do with selecting the new hire……Whatever Tatum! Ya know it was kind of quiet over the weekend when you didn’t have something to say on every issue on this blog!
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 9:23 pm |
My comment regarding personal knowledge was sarcasm, and I am still shocked beyond that in that you still defend the chief who has otherwise done a terrible job in maintaining his department. Evidently you choose to ignore the other comments in my post and nitpick away- how classy.
And fictitious name…like I told omfglmao- touché.
Comment by Tatum Stevens — September 8, 2010 @ 10:56 pm |
OOPS! Supposed to be “FICTIOUS”.
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 9:43 pm |
WHOOPS! OK so I can’t spell!
Comment by mag — September 8, 2010 @ 10:16 pm |
I know this is the wrong pace to post this – but does anyone know if there is going to be a 9/11 service in Amsterdam this year??
Comment by karin — September 9, 2010 @ 12:02 am |
well done this officer did correct when a suspect refuse an order to move he used oll his forse to take him out the car,whats the problem ,now the police has to hug and kiss people when they are arested???,bring him to amsterdam so we can kick some….
Comment by erwin — September 9, 2010 @ 3:46 pm |
Let’s all hold hands, close our eyes, and channel Noah Webster.
Comment by OMFGLMAO — September 9, 2010 @ 8:32 pm |