Pubdate: Sat, 07 Apr 2007
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Copyright: 2007 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact: http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
Website: http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: Michele Morgan Bolton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ALBANY JUDGE SUBJECT OF STATE INVESTIGATION

Thomas Keefe Allegedly Aided His Son Twice During Traffic Stops By 
Albany Police

ALBANY -- A City Court judge is being investigated by the state 
Commission on Judicial Conduct over allegations he twice intervened 
when police stopped his son, including once when the youth had 
marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to sources with knowledge 
of the probe.

Investigators with the watchdog panel that oversees judges are 
looking into claims Albany City Court Judge Thomas Keefe persuaded 
Albany police to allow him to take his son from two traffic stops 
without formal charges. He also is alleged to have left with some evidence.

"This is news to me," said Keefe, when he was reached at City Court 
on Friday. "I don't know anything about the fact the commission is 
looking into me."

When confronted with the allegations against him, Keefe said, "I'm 
not going to make any comment."

The Times Union filed a request under the state Freedom of 
Information Law in January for the incident reports that police 
prepared after two traffic stops: one on Nov. 8, 2005, at 1:15 a.m. 
at Lawnridge and New Scotland avenues, and another on March 30, 2006, 
at 11:08 a.m. at Kent and West Erie streets.

Those reports were released by the Albany City Clerk in February, but 
Keefe's son's name had been redacted with a thick, black line. The 
youth was 16 during the 2005 incident. However, the name of a 
passenger in the 2006 incident was left visible. That youth's age was redacted.

According to information provided about the 2005 incident, Officer 
John Joyce pulled the younger Keefe over for speeding at 1:15 a.m. 
and then released him at 1:55 a.m.

What is not reflected on the report are observations by Joyce and a 
back-up officer, Daniel Meehan. Sources with knowledge of the 
investigation say the officers saw the younger Keefe put a small 
wooden box in his pocket, which contained a small amount of 
marijuana, and found a digital scale and some baggies under the seat.

The officers asked the youth if the judge was his father and 
suggested he call home. Within minutes, the judge appeared at the 
traffic stop, asked the officers to release his son to him and he 
confiscated the drugs and paraphernalia, and they left.

In the 2006 incident, officers Erin Commerford and Michael Smith 
stopped the younger Keefe for speeding at 11:08 a.m. The judge again 
went to his son's aid, according to a person familiar with the case. 
According to the report the officers filed, he was sent on his way at 1:45 p.m.

Joyce, the patrol officer at the 2005 traffic stop, was questioned 
Wednesday by the state commission in its Albany office, said people 
who knew what occurred during that session.

Albany Police Chief James Tuffey said he had no knowledge of the 
investigation or the traffic stops.

"I don't know what happened, if anything happened," Tuffey said. "But 
I have asked the head of internal affairs to be in my office first 
thing on Monday morning."

If Keefe is found to have used his position to benefit his son, the 
judicial conduct commission could opt for discipline ranging from 
censure to removal from the bench. Keefe, who is 54, makes $108,800 annually.

Commission Chief Counsel Robert Tembeckjian, reached Friday, said he 
isn't allowed to comment.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman