Sexting Police Chief returning to duty

Saratoga Springs, NY

As the attractive resort city gets in to full swing with the opening of racing season, the city's police chief is about to take the reins again.

If you've kept up with the story or read my previous posts of;

Police Chief Suspended for Sexting
Sexting Scandal in Saratoga
Police Chief Sexting Scandal Sanitized

you'll know that Police Chief Christopher Cole was slapped with an unpaid suspension of 60 days for sexting a picture of his junk to a woman he met on an internet dating site.  If you piece the story together, it sounds like they never really hooked up in the conventional method, but she first texted a pic of her breasts, and he reciprocated by dropping his drawers in his office and then clicked away.  In the Chief's statement to the press, he said that he didn't do this on city time but was instead, on his lunch break.  (Like that somehow made a difference.)

As it turns out, the female half of this controversy, Laurie Masi, has an established and well documented history with other law enforcement officers in the area.  There are police reports on file with at least 4 other area departments documenting that she has engaged in what some might call, "emotional blackmail."  Some may even stereotype her as a classic "Badge Bunny."  Whatever the case, Ms. Masi has allegedly terminated her relationship with her attorney and has literally disappeared from the public eye.  In all fairness, if she had even an inkling of a case of sexual harassment or stalking, she no doubt would have gotten tremendous support. However, it's difficult to take anyone seriously when you initiate the sexting and then a history of failed relationships with other cops comes to light.  She successfully embarrassed both of them.

As for the Chief, he indeed made an error in judgment.  An error that would under normal circumstances have cost any other Police Chief their career.  Apparently though, not in Saratoga.  The city's Public Safety Commissioner, Richard Wirth, is an elected official who seems to wield a great deal of power, and he alone has decided the Chief's fate.

Initially, Commissioner Wirth announced that Cole was going to get a total of 60 days unpaid suspension, followed by 3 years on probation.  The original reprimand called for 30 days unpaid suspension now and 30 days unpaid suspension in December. However, Wirth announced that the second half of the suspension was being "held in abeyance."

Merriam-Webster definition:  abeyance:  "temporary inactivity, cessation or suspension:" Let's hold that problem in abeyance for awhile.

Confused yet?  Is his suspension suspended or has he ceased doling out the last 30 days altogether?

Wirth is a consummate politician. He waves his magic wand and says,  Abra cadabra -  let's make it all go away.  If you've read the linked article above, it sounds as though Wirth is painting a delightful little picture to the citizenry with his typical political aplomb...."No, the city hasn't suffered any negative publicity because of this scandal.  No, the police department hasn't been embarrassed in the least.  No, there will be no problem with the Chief commanding the respect of his department.  Yes, the fire is contained." 
What a bunch of bullshit!

Anyone looked at the obnoxious salary you pay this politico?  Come election time, you residents might want to consider why you even have a Public Safety Commissioner.

It's plainly obvious that Cole is holding out for the 25 year pension plan and Wirth is helping him do it.  After 21 years, Cole's career is already shot to shit and he'd have a hell of a time finding any law enforcement or security job, what with this scandal hanging over his head.

My hat's off to the acting Police Chief, Capt. Michael Chowske, who has been performing the duties of 3 different command level positions.  The Assistant Chief's job had yet to be filled after a recent retirement and then Cole got overly excited with a Badge Bunny, leaving Chowske steering the ship.


I happened across this on Youtube.....Chief Cole is the recipient of Weasel Award #997

While I profess not to have much knowledge of the Weasel committee and its background, a weasel seems a befitting characterization of Cole.

Sexting Scandal in Saratoga

My previous story about the Police Chief in Saratoga Springs, NY has taken some interesting turns.  Local newspaper headlines report that the sexting was between 2 consenting  adults having a relationship in the most modern of ways.  Many are assailing Ms. Masi is the aggressor in this incident and that her sole intent is financial gain. Some blatantly call her a whore monger and that she may have established  a pattern of similar conduct. This news release today shows that it just may be true. So now the assumption from people is that the Chief may possibly have been the victim of entrapment. Oh, please! Any cop with common sense would know that those kinds of things are bits of evidence that can later be used against them. No one made him do it. He freely committed a serious act of stupidity that will haunt him forever. In fact, when you meet someone on an internet dating site, you take a great deal of chances.

So now, all the usual rumors and accusations are flying haphazardly in this mid sized city famous for its horse racing.

The Chief admitted in a press conference that he made an error in judgment.  Who started it doesn't really matter. He dropped his drawers in his office, took a picture of more than just his underwear and pushed the SEND button.  There is no RETRIEVE button.  It's out there forever now.

Hell, he's a police officer and a supervisor of 65 officers. His actions and leadership skills are questionable at best. In this city, like most of New York, civil service tests are still used to determine a person's promotional eligibility status. My personal opinion is that those tests are no true measure of a person's command capabilities, education, trustworthiness, and character.

I am not one who has staunch puritan values about anyone's sex life.  In fact, to each his own.  However, when public officials make poor decisions about their personal lives, it can and will reflect unfavorably on their professional life. This is certainly a case in point.

Chief Cole's boss, Public Safety Commissioner Rick Wirth, is quoted as saying, "I don't think the department will be tarnished at all." Is this guy for real? This story has not only made headlines throughout New York state, but has been shared through numerous cop blogs. It's hilariously stupid!

I am really curious to hear the opinions of police officers everywhere.

Police Chief Suspended for Sexting

In the small upstate New York city called Saratoga Springs, a police department of 65 sworn officers has a police chief who finds himself embroiled in a little scandal.

Last week, Police Chief Chris Cole, called a press conference to
announce that he "had made an error in judgment" by sending sexually related texts and pictures to a single female who is also a city employee. He said that it was an intermittent relationship between 2 consenting adults and that they always used their personal phones.  She texted him a pic of her boobs and he reciprocated with a pic of his junk.  Except, he took his pic while in his office at city hall.  The Chief's assertion that he did this while "on his lunch break" is somehow supposed to make a difference?

Some 'speculate' that the Chief called the press conference to counter the allegations made against him by the female employee. Laurie Masi  retained the services of an attorney to sue both the Chief and the city for the humiliation and shame that he has caused her. She states that they never had any kind of relationship and that he kept sexting her even after she told him to stop.  She allegedly went to someone in Internal Affairs and they told her nothing could be done because he had committed no crime.  So, the attorney was the next logical step. Police Dept. personnel are denying Ms. Masi made any kind of complaint to them about the matter.
Now we have a she said - he said situation.

2 things you have to give Cole credit for -

1. He had the foresight to break the news to his boss before it was public
2. He made it public before Ms. Masi had the chance

If you ask the residents of this summer tourist city, you will find that some are ambivalent, believing that what 2 consenting adults do in their sex life is really no one's business.  Some say that because she started it by texting a boob shot to him on a dare, that he's not at fault for anything. There are others who think he shouldn't be suspended with pay. While Chief Cole committed no crime that he can be arrested for, he did publicly admit to lewd behavior. This is morally reprehensible for a Police Chief.  Sure, everyone is entitled to a healthy sex life, but when you're a public official and police officer, there is a certain amount of ethical conduct necessary to earn the public's trust.  I sure as hell wouldn't trust this clown near ANY women.

The Public Safety Commissioner  announced that the chief is suspended with pay pending his investigation and named the 2nd in command as acting Chief.

As an example of what can happen to police who are caught sexting, this veteran cop lost his job for virtually the same thing. He explained his away as a joke and that the picture of male genitalia was not his. The police department terminated him for violating their department's code of ethics.

Some very vocal residents are calling for the Chief's resignation and that the Chief's job should be recruited from the outside. Residents complain that there is a good ole' boy system with generations of the same families within the department.  It is proposed that new blood could significantly change the leadership and redirect the department, cleaning up whatever internal mess may or may not be occurring.

On an interesting note, Chris Cole's Father was once the Police Chief for this department.