THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS
August 25 to August 29, 2014
TOP HEADLINES
Schneiderman Secures Funding To Equip Officers In Finger Lakes And Southern Tier With Bulletproof Vests
In Binghamton, Attorney General Schneiderman announced awards to law enforcement agencies in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, through the Attorney General’s inVEST Partnership, a statewide program that helps law enforcement agencies purchase bulletproof vests for sworn officers. The funding awarded includes $16,817 to support the purchase of 71 vests for the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, $10,465 to support the purchase of 26 vests for the City of Binghamton Police Department, $4,847.94 to support the purchase of 12 bulletproof vests for the Village of Watkins Glen Police Department, and $4,387.50 to support the purchase of 9 vests for the Horseheads Police Department, among others. Including these new grants in the Southern Tier, Attorney General Schneiderman has so far announced more than $2.6 million to support the purchase of over 7,500 bulletproof vests for law enforcement agencies in Western New York, the Capital Region, Central New York, the North Country, New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley.
Schneiderman Provides Funding To Equip Southern Tier Police With Life-Saving Heroin Antidote
In Ithaca, Attorney General Schneiderman announced that law enforcement agencies in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions will also be joining the Attorney General’s Community Overdose Prevention (COP) Program. Attorney General Schneiderman announced that his office would provide funding to equip police officers with naloxone, the extremely effective heroin antidote that can instantly reverse the effects of an opioid or heroin overdose. The Attorney General’s COP Program uses funds seized from drug dealers and other criminals to reimburse local police departments for the cost of naloxone kits. The Ithaca Police Department will now be equipped with 35 life-saving kits, and Groton Police will have four kits. The Binghamton Police Department will also be equipped with 68 kits, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office will have 55 kits, and the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office will have 45 kits.
Schneiderman Sues Long Island & Florida Companies For Defrauding Homeowners
Attorney General Schneiderman filed a lawsuit against four companies, including Long Island-based Home Affordable Direct, for allegedly operating a fraudulent loan modification scam. The companies and their principals are alleged to have preyed upon financially vulnerable consumers by claiming they could provide substantial relief from unaffordable mortgage payments through loan modifications and other forms of foreclosure prevention. The firms allegedly collected illegal advance fees and routinely failed to deliver on their promises. The lawsuit seeks to stop these illegal practices, and provide restitution and damages to consumers.
Schneiderman Arrests Unlicensed Dentists On Charges They Treated Patients At Brooklyn Clinics
Attorney General Schneiderman arrested four individuals for allegedly practicing dentistry without a license at two Brooklyn dental clinics, putting their patients at risk. During an undercover investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, investigators allegedly observed the unlicensed dentists providing medical advice and even drilling a patient’s tooth, an invasive and potentially dangerous procedure that only a licensed dentist can perform. If convicted, the defendants face up to four years in prison.
Upcoming Events
The Attorney General will discuss his office’s work on energy and environmental issues as the keynote speaker at a forum hosted by Pace University on Wednesday, September 3, 2014. See the flyer below for complete details.
In Other News…
Attorney General Schneiderman published an op-ed in the Ithaca Journal, the Press & Sun-Bulletin and the Elmira Star-Gazette on last week’s historic settlement with Bank of America, highlighting how it will benefit New York State families.
The Attorney General praised California Governor Jerry Brown for signing legislation requiring that all smartphones sold in California have anti-theft technology, known as ‘kill switches.’
While in Ithaca on Wednesday, Attorney General Schneiderman met with Mayor Svante Myrick and Councilman Stephen Smith.
Contact Us
Visit our website at ag.ny.gov, where you can learn more about the office’s various initiatives. You can also contact us here.
