Editorial: An ethical triple bogey for the State Police |
State Police Superintendent Steven James congratulates graduating troopers in May 2024, during a ceremony at Empire State Convention Center in Albany.
For a sense of the extent of the scandal enveloping the upper ranks of the New York State Police — a result of allegations that members abused their law enforcement credentials at the Ryder Cup golf tournament — consider this: One of the senior leaders who either have retired or are expected to depart is acting Staff Inspector Stephen Udice, who had recently been reassigned to oversee the agency’s professional standards bureau for the state’s southern region.
As reported last week by the Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons, Mr. Udice had been the commanding officer of Troop L, the State Police region that includes Long Island's renowned state-operated Bethpage Black golf course, where State Police were providing the primary security during the September event. Mr. Udice allegedly distributed dozens of complimentary Ryder Cup passes — each worth hundreds of dollars — to friends, acquaintances and........