Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 11

Democrat and Chronicle Rochester, N. HA Sept 27, 1966 from Crime Commission rt Excerpt Repo Continued from Page I OA seek favors, as the following testimony of Sam Solone illustrates: Did you go to see the Commissioner? A Yes. Q-Yourself, personally? A Yes. ft That was Commissioner Sibley? A Yes, and he told me that there was a request in there by his Sergeant and 'He is a good officer and the first chance we gt we will try to help You told him, Sibley, what? What did you tell him about this man? A Well, I told him that he is doing the work and he's got a family and sergeant recommends him. Did you tell Sibley that you were Crime Probers Hit Meddling By Politicians Continued from Page 1A Valenti, said, "That's something we'd like to know." As for Valenti, the commission sketched a portrait of a "notorious underworld figure" who returned to Rochester from Pittsburgh in the fall of 1964 to 'Ve-establish himself as the leader of syndicate operations in the Rochester area." Valenti, the SIC said, "sought1 and obtained" the approval of Cosa Nostra kingpin Stefano (Steve) Maggadinno, the 73 year-old rackets boss of the Niagara Frontier.

The SIC said that "confidential information" indicated that Valenti planned to organize bookmakers in Rochester and cull a percentage of their profits in return for "protection." (The confidential information A-Yes." Naturally enough, since political influence had been and still was the order of the day, particularly with regard to promotions and transfers in the Police Bureau, the rank and file police officer made, or attempted to make good use of it themselves. At one point, according to DiGiovanni's own testimony, in the course cf a discussion of his job status with Commissioner Corbett, the latter readily suggested that DiGiovanni speak to Schieffelin to see what could be done a suggestion which DiGiovanni followed. Leonard Schieffelin was not the only political leader whose assistance DiGiovanni sought. He also enlisted the active support of Ward Leader Sam Solone. Solone admitted, in testimony before the Commission, that DiGiovanni had come to him for help in obtaining a promotion not long after his party came to power in 1962.

Oddly enough, even though DiGiovanni did not even live in his ward, Solone tried to use his influence with Schieffelin on DiGiovanni's behalf, not once, but even as late as 1965, when Schieffelin became County Leader. The commission summarized its find? ings by warning of the dangers of police-racketeer associations and political med- dling in Police Bureau matters. No function of government is more vital to all the people than a strong system of law enforcement. In recent years, great strides have been made, particularly in New York State, to elevate police competence and service to higher prof 6s- sional standards. Qualifications for appointment have been carefully upgraded.

New laws have been enacted requiring longer periods of training for police recruits. Provisions have also been made for in-service refresher courses and additional instruction and training in modern law enforcement techniques for officers of all ranks. Such programs should certainly produce an increasingly higher quality of local law enforcement. Nevertheless, all of these important gains can be nullified by political meddling and intervention in police affairs. In spite of other advances, little progress has been made in freeing local police departments from political 1 interference.

The relationship between political officials and police departments, with-. its attendant--pressures, has long been a major handicap to effective law enforcement. This Commission, time and again, in various investigations throughout this state, has seen the corroding effects upon police morale and efficiency resulting from political interference in police matters. In addition to situations brought on by political influences and activities, laxity and breakdown in law enforcement also occurs, at times, as a result of corruption by racketeers of officials charged with enforcement of the laws. Thus, hoodlum elements engaged in organized criminal activities often seek to influence the actions of public officials through personal associations, mutual favors and payments of money.

Therefore, it is vital that police personnel avoid meetings or any contact or association with racketeers, gamblers or others engaged in criminal activities unless for essential police purposes. Contacts in the line of duty should be known to superiors and the results of such contacts should be fully reported as regular department business. As was detailed in this report, the evidence indicates that the meeting" of May 23, 1965 between Valenti and the two vice control officers was not held for the reasons claimed and certainly notfor any legitimate law enforcement purpose or for the carrying out of any lawful and proper police function. The evidence is uncontradicted that the officers failed to report the meeting and lied to their Comfissioner about it This was misconduct of the most serious, nature. It warranted swift and decisive application of the strictest possible action on the part of those charged with the enforcement of discipline.

That was not done. The failure to take such action is detrimental to good order, discipline and effectiveness of the department. The Commission has kept and will continue to "'keep the public informed as to the operations of organized crime and problems of criminal law enforcement in the But in the final analysis, the ultimate responsibility for a competent, efficient and effective police department, free from political interference, rests in the hands of the public itself. personalty interested in seeing that he got the appointment? A-Well- Q-I guess the fact that you were there, asking about it showed your personal interest? A Look, as a politician I am not going to pull any punches. I am trying to get votes for the party.

If anybody asks me to help him I am going to try to help him. Was this officer a member oP the Democratic Club? its chain of command system was detailed in a Democrat and Chronicle series beginning in December, 1964, and outlining matic" of the police business Pressed for affirmation of from Civil Service lists and that the political requests were de Solone's participation in at that political connections were yaienu activities here and his nied. tempted interference in the Commissioner Harper Sibley who fired DiGiovanni and Lipari for lying to him about the Valenti meeting, testified "I purpose for returning.) bureau, Sibley testified, "Yes, Well, it goes without saying. He Solone, called to the hearings, testified that local ward leaders had no qualms about interced helpful in obtaining police promotions. "You are asking me for a frank answer.

I think that has been the feeling among the men for 50 years," answered is number one on this." Nichaolas J. DiNardo, who operates a "cigar store" at 677 Jay set the tone for the parade of gamblers subpoenaed by the commission by testifying felt, it was a very, very poor way to run a police bureau. I The comnflssion reported that "a number of policemen" recognized necessity of seeking political help to obtain promotions. These included DiGiovanni, said the who, according to Solone, sought help in obtaining an advancement soon after the Democratic party assumed control of City Hall in 1962. Solone, suffering from a heart ing on behalf of police officers, When asked if other ward did and I do." Sibley added that the condition "wasn't Demo condition, has since "retired" from active participation in 7th Ward politics.

leaders followed the same prac Asked if ward leaders at tice, Solone answered, "Every uiat his associates were taking bets even as the commission was conducting its widely-pub cratic, wasn't Republican," but was "just the way it operated in Rochester." Asked if he ever received tempted to exert political influence in connection with police licized hearings. ward leader has the same problem" The "same problem" Solone referred to was an alleged Sibley's predecessor, Donald Apart from political interfer promotions, Corbett answered in the affirmative, naming former direct requests from political leaders for assignments and promotions in the Police Bureau, Corbett testified, "Hundreds of times." The former Charles (Chuck) Dominlck, operator of Chuck's Cigar Store, 121 State in which the ence in personnel affairs of the 7th Ward Democratic leader widespread practice of police officers seeking promotions Police Bureau, the commission said it uncovered evidence of J. Corbett, who was pressured into resigning by party leaders at the height of the gambling controversy, was asked by the commission if it was "Sympto- Sam Solone and 15th Ward lebrated DiGiovanni-Lipari- through the political influence of partisan meddling in the ppera- Democratic Leader Camelio. valenti meeting was held, also admitted in the hearings that he Frank commissioner said that promotions actually made originated ward-Ievel politicians. tional phases of the bureau.

had been accepting bets In his store for years, right up to and including the day be testified. Some Didn't Cooperate The SIC elicited considerably less cooperation from some of Valcnti's closer associates. Samuel J. (Red) Russotti, 52 Creekside Irondequoit, testified that he supported himself I and his family either by gambling or like Michael (Patys) Amico, with money borrowed from his mother. The commission observed in a footnote that it had been unable to locate another Valenti associate, Rene Piccaretto, 2146 Lehigh Station Road, Henrietta, since October, 1965, although Piccaretto has a home, family I Mil "OMl' y'Wii and a business here.

he has apparently either left town or gone into hiding to avoid service of the subpoena," said the commission. Three known a 1 i thwarted attempts by the com mission to establish that Valenti had been conducting "shake I i Mm I 1 a i 8 a i i i $nf 'C "I If fl $. if ill -11 1 4 1 1111 i AlMi down" operations by selling "protection" rights. Each of them, while admitting to continuous bookmaking enterprises, denied that they had been coerced by Valenti's assistants. One, whose mother was the victim of an assault, attributed the incident to an attempted robbery rather than extortion or intimidation.

Profitable for Syndicate The commission, drawing upon the testimony of Roches ter's fraternity of gamblers, concluded that "gambling In the City of Rochester was being conducted to a degree that Its organization and control by Valenti would be highly profit able venture." It was against this back-cround. the commission ob served, that the sub-rosa meet ing between Valenti and the two vice detectives took place. The four-man commission re garded the State Street confer -s msmtmmmmmmMlmrmma: jyiiy I lliiSliiiiil ON INVESTMENT DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS ence, labeled by DiGiovannl as an information-gathering venture, as "completely unneces Natural Pastel Mink Jacket795.00 A smart new mink jacket with sleeves that turn up at the elbows arid a most unusual roll collar that' looks, well closed or set back from the face. Here is economy and beauty in a very smart jacket. Still going strong are beautiful little furs, leaders on the fashion scene throughout the' year.

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