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DA's Office Probes Claims of Port Authority Crime Stat Fixing, Report Says

By Test Reporter | March 28, 2011 11:32am
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. is investigating the accuracy of crime statistics reported by Port Authority police.
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. is investigating the accuracy of crime statistics reported by Port Authority police.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images

by Leila Molana-Allen

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

PORT AUTHORITY — Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. is investigating claims that the Port Authority Police Department has been downplaying the seriousness of crimes taking place at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in official records, according to a report by the New York Post.

The Port Authority police are accused of altering charges to lower crime statistics and reduce the need for overtime pay, the Post reported.

Vance was prompted to look into the accusations after suspicions were raised when felony charges against accused thief Richard Hemphill were dropped last month. Hemphill, 46, allegedly turned violent and put policeman Dan Galvin in hospital when he was intercepted shoplifting at a Duane Reade outlet in the Port Authority terminal on Feb. 19, the Post reported.

The shoplifter was originally charged with robbery and assault, both felonies. However, Lt. David Attard later petitioned to have the charges reduced to three misdemeanours, for petit larceny, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a weapon, the paper reported.

The Port Authority Benevolent Association lodged a complaint in response to the lieutenant's action, asserting that Attard’s actions were inappropriate. The PABA alleged that Lt. Attard had a conflict of interest when he reduced the charges, as his other duties include monitoring the levels of felony crime, the Post reported. PABA counsel John McAusland took the matter directly to District Attorney Vance.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority said everything had been properly handled, the Post reported.