Suffern officer promoted amid controversy over past harassment accusations
In a controversial move, the Suffern Police Department promoted Officer William Osborn to sergeant, despite concerns raised about his ability to lead and past accusations of harassment. The decision came amidst criticism from a former officer and was nearly unanimously supported by the Village Board.
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In a controversial move, the Suffern Police Department promoted Officer William Osborn to sergeant, despite concerns raised about his ability to lead and past accusations of harassment. The decision came amidst criticism from a former officer and was nearly unanimously supported by the Village Board.
Dozens of community members attended the ceremony to witness Osborn following in the footsteps of his father, Clarke Osborn, who served as Suffern's police chief for 16 years and was a part of the force for 30 years. Clarke expressed his pride at his son's promotion, stating, "It was an honor to see him sworn in tonight."
However, not everyone shared this sentiment. Former Suffern Officer Lance Weinstein, a 25-year veteran of the department, voiced concerns over Osborn's promotion. He cited a harassment lawsuit settled last year, involving Osborn and another officer, which cost the town nearly $500,000.
"You're going to be rewarded for harassment? That sends the wrong message to the female victim and the public in general," Weinstein expressed, adding that there were others more deserving of the promotion.
Suffern Mayor Michael Curly defended the decision, explaining that Osborn was not named in the lawsuit and no evidence had been presented against him. He further emphasized that the promotion decision was difficult, but ultimately, Osborn scored the highest among his peers. "At the end of the day, he was number one on the list and that's why I promoted him," Curly stated.
Clarke Osborn dismissed Weinstein's concerns as those of a "disgruntled employee." He mentioned that Weinstein had faced multiple arrests, to which Weinstein responded by defining himself more of a "victim," adding that Osborn has targeted him since he testified in a lawsuit against him in the early 2000s.
Despite the contention, the Village Board voted nearly unanimously in favor of Osborn's promotion, with only one opposing vote.
