PLATTEKILL – Police Chief Joe Ryan, a member of the department since 1996 and chief since 2007 is being investigated by the Plattekill Town Board following an accident with his official vehicle while on personal family business in New Jersey.
Chief Ryan was in his police department vehicle while tending to a family matter on September 1, 2022, when he swerved to avoid a collision and struck a curb, causing minor damage to his government vehicle. The accident occurred in Toms River, New Jersey. The incident was reported to the Toms River Police Department and the local cops reported no wrongdoing on the part of Ryan.
At a recent town board meeting, Town Supervisor Jennifer Salermo and the board decided to investigate Ryan’s use of his police vehicle for personal business in Toms River, New Jersey, more than 130 miles away from the Plattekill Police Department.
Ryan has been investigated by Plattekill officials in the past. In 2016 he was arrested by the Town of Newburgh Police after they responded to a domestic incident at his Newburgh home. After being charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, Ryan was placed on administrative leave with pay by the town board. Then-Town Supervisor Joseph Croce ordered Ryan to turn in his badge and gun while the town board conducted an investigation.
The domestic incident followed another run-in between Ryan and the Town of Newburgh cops. In June of 2016, officers responded to a complaint at a Route 300 hotel bar after an employee reported a disorderly man on the premises. Ryan was not arrested as a result of the incident but Plattekill town officials were made aware of the encounter.
