Orange County DA David Hoovler, center, discusses his police active
shooter policy of total
objectivity and transparency as Middletown Police Chief Ramon
Bethencourt, left, and
State Police Major Joseph Tripdo listen at a news conference on
Thursday
TOWN OF WALLKILL – Police have identified the man who Middletown
officers shot to death Wednesday evening as Richard Dinneny, 53, of Middletown.
They characterized him as the on-again, off-again boyfriend of the woman
whose apartment on Overlook Drive he broke into even though he has an
order of protection against him for him to stay away from her.
A first anonymous call to 911 came from someone reporting a domestic quarrel
and Dinneny himself called afterwards.
State Police Troop F Commander Major Joseph Tripodo said Thursday that
Dinneny refused to drop his weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun,
when he went outside and was ordered to do so repeatedly by Middletown
officers. That’s when two officers with more than 10 years on the
job each, opened fire and shot him several times. He died after being
rushed to Orange Regional Medical Center.
Police would not say the shooting was “suicide by cop,” but
said they were exploring that theory.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and the State Police are
handling the criminal investigation with full objectivity and transparency..
He pointed to a 19-month old police involved shooting policy he implemented
that sets forth the guidelines in cases like this.
The Middletown Police Department will investigate only the administrative
side of the investigation, said Chief Ramon Bethencourt.
Hoovler said when the grand jury has concluded its duties and his office
has written its report, he will make the entire investigation public.
