Middletown NY Firefighters Resist Security Plan after Drug Scandal

MIDDLETOWN, NY—The city firefighters' union is fighting back against plans to install security cameras at all three of its firehouses in the wake of a drug-ring scandal.

Middletown Firefighters Association Inc. Local 1027 filed an improper practice charge with the state Public Employment Relations Board on Oct. 21 against city hall for the soon-to-be-installed video surveillance cameras at the Central Firehouse on East Main Street, the Wallkill Street Station on Wallkill Avenue and the North Street Station.

According to a copy of the complaint obtained by the Times Herald-Record, the union alleges the cameras were being installed without its consent and without prior negotiation. The union asked for a cease and desist order to prevent the city from moving forward with installing the cameras.

"Upon information and belief, the installation of the video cameras will violate the privacy rights of members, be used for discipline and to evaluate claims for General Municipal Law Section 207-a benefits and involve other mandatory subjects of negotiation," the charge states.

Beefing up security at the firehouses was agreed on by the city's Common Council after the "Operation Bread, White and Blues" drug-rings case, in which former Middletown fire Lt. Paul G. Smith, of Deerpark, pleaded guilty as a drug trafficker in April. Smith, who was officially terminated by the city in May, had reportedly used the city's Central Firehouse for drug sales and to hold conspiracy-related meetings.

Two other local volunteer firefighters were among the 29 defendants arrested in the case in February.

Mayor Joseph DeStefano called the union's improper practice charge a "disgrace" and said the union should be "embarrassed" by this action.

"This has nothing to do with their ability to do their jobs, and they should welcome the city addressing what happened ... rather than fight it," DeStefano said.

Camera and swipe-card entrance technology installation began about a week ago, DeStefano said. The cameras are slated to go in hallways and stairways, the exterior and first floor of the buildings, and the entrance and exit to the control room — not near living quarters, bathrooms or kitchens. Installation of the surveillance systems will continue despite the union's charge, DeStefano said.

"Middletown residents deserve transparency on this," DeStefano said. "They deserve to know that city government has taken action so it can never happen again. What they're doing is they're trying to make an atmosphere in which it can happen again."

Michael Demchak, president of the union, declined to comment due to the pending litigation. A call to the union's attorney, Thomas J. Jordan, Esq., was not returned Wednesday.

A conference to assist with resolving the matter or to determine if a formal hearing is necessary is scheduled at the PERB office in Albany on Dec. 18.

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