Harrison REVIEW THE
December 2, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 49 | www.harrisonreview.com
Town board appoints Lt. Olsey as next police chief Rye Brook considers law to regulate gun stores By COREY STOCKTON and FRANCO FINO Staff Writers
Town officials are expected to make three promotions in the police ranks including promoting Lt. Michael Olsey to chief of the department. Lt. Edward Detlefs is also expected to be promoted to police captain. And Sgt. John Vasta will be promoted to lieutenant to fill one of the positions left by Olsey and Detlefs.
Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, confirmed on Wednesday that the town board would appoint and formally swear in all three officers during a town board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 1, after press time. Olsey has been the acting chief of the Police Department since former Chief Anthony Marraccini was suspended in September amid an internal investigation and a federal probe. Marraccini resigned on Oct. 6 while he was still suspended
with pay. Olsey was one of three members of the department who interviewed with the town board for the chief position. Having served on the town’s police force for 20 years, Olsey told the Review he would look to continue the programs the department is currently utilizing, but would also work to improve community outreach using a variety of approaches including social media. Olsey may have already impacted the organization of the
department. Last month, Councilman Steve Malfitano, a Republican, told the Review that the town board would ask for input from the new chief in considering whether to reinstate the police captain position, which had been vacant since 2010, when then-Capt. Marraccini was promoted to chief. Olsey confirmed that the board asked for his input, and that he recommended reviving that position. “I CHIEF continued on page 11
MORE THAN AN
ASSIST In an attempt to shed light on the dangers and consequences of drug and alcohol use among teens, the Eastchester school district enlisted the aid of former NBA player Chris Herren, an ex-heroin addict who nearly lost his life battling the disease. For story, see page 14. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The village of Rye Brook plans to propose a local law that would regulate where gun retailers would be allowed to open stores within the village. The pending legislation comes in the wake of the recent opening of a gun store in a contentious area in Harrison last month. According to Rye Brook Mayor Paul Rosenberg, a Democrat, that legislation “will seek to, on a local level, dictate where gun shops may be located within the village of Rye Brook.” Rosenberg told the Review that legislation could be proposed as early as the Dec. 13 village board meeting, and added that a first draft of that legislation had already been written. Both Rosenberg and Chris Bradbury, the Rye Brook village administrator, said the specifics are still being investigated by the village attorneys to prevent potential legal backlash of an overreaching law. Meanwhile, village officials have asked for collaboration from members of the Harrison town board in proposing the law. In a letter addressed to Harrison officials, Rosenberg asked them to join Rye Brook—and potentially other neighboring communities—in considering the adoption of legislation that would restrict the location of gun stores regionally. Bradbury and Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, said they have since discussed meeting.
Similarly, the city of Rye has formed a gun safety committee in response to the location of the Harrison shop. That committee could look to propose similar legislation to regulate where guns could be sold within the city. However, city officials have not collaborated with officials in Rye Brook as of press time. Rosenberg’s letter to Harrison expressed specific concern about the location of L&L Sports, the gun store at the center of controversy. The shop opened in early November on Halstead Avenue in Harrison, and is less than 1,000 feet from Parsons Memorial Elementary School. Its proximity to the school and also two churches has drawn concern from town residents and its neighboring communities; an online petition protesting the store’s location has garnered nearly 3,500 signatures, as of press time. However, Harrison officials have said that there is nothing they can to prohibit the business from operating. The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act prohibits someone from carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of a school unless the weapon is unloaded and kept in a locked case. However, that law has a provision that allows gun stores to operate within a 1,000-foot zone. Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, said she may also look to propose a countywide LAW continued on page 8