Kevin Bruen

State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen submitted his resignation on Friday, just days after reports that he may be under investigation.

Bruen is under investigation for his handling of internal personnel matters including allegations he shielded former human resources director Mary Ellen Tedesco from complaints because of his close working relationship with her. According to the New York Post, Tedesco resigned a month ago after issues surfaced over her alleged handling of a prospective employee who was wheelchair-bound.

Bruen is also reported to be the official who opted not to punish the state trooper who was dating one of Andrew Cuomo‘s daughters while also serving as member of the former governor’s official protection detail.

Bruen was appointed Superintendent of the State Police 16 months ago by former governor Cuomo with the appointment confirmed in June 2021.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday that she had accepted Bruen’s resignation and that a thorough search for a new police superintendent would begin.

Bruen’s resignation letter said he will remain on the job until October 19.

First Deputy Superintendent Steven Nigrelli will take over as Acting Superintendent on an interim basis until a new superintendent is named.

Chautauqua Institution

New York State Police Superintendant Kevin Bruen said there will be an increased presence of State Police on the Institution’s grounds, “We’re going to do it in conjunction with the County Sheriff and in discussion with members of the Institution staff. Some of it you will see. Some of the commitment you will see will be in terms of uniformed troopers, troopers with K9s, and a lot of what will happen you won’t see. There’ll be investigators doing background work, threat assessments, and other sorts of things that we do.”

For those visiting the Institution, effective immediately, all gate passes and tickets will require identification. Sunday passes and will call purposes passes will now be issued as Ground Access passes, requiring patrons to provide a photo ID at the ticket office. Existing gate passes will be honored as is.

The Institution is also enforcing a “no bag” policy in the Amphitheater and at all indoor performance venues such as Bratton Theater, Norton Hall, Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, Fletcher Music Hall and Hall of Christ. Only small clutches, wristlets, or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5-inches by 6.5-inches will be allowed.

Additionally, all building contractors must present identification matching with an authorized contractor name for Grounds access. Contractors may enter through any Chautauqua gate.

Visit chq.org for more information

Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at Chautauqua Institution on August 14, 2022

“So wisdom will always prevail over this. I’ll also say that tolerance will always prevail over hate. Courage will always prevail over fear. And the pen will always prevail over the knife.”

Governor Kathy Hochul spoke those words at Chautauqua Institution‘s Hall of Philosophy Sunday following a tumultuous few days after the attack on author Salman Rushdie at the Amphitheater.

Hochul, joined by Institution President Michael Hill and County Executive PJ Wendel, said Chautauqua Institution stands for the values of education, free speech, and inclusion, “New York State will always stand up to protect freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and we condemn the cowardly attack on Salman Rushdie. And we condemn any individual, or any group, that dare violate the sanctity of a place like Chautauqua, to attempt an assassination on a world leader. That cannot happen in New York.”

Hochul said she had the chance to meet with the staff and people who assisted when Rushdie was attacked on Friday just before he was to deliver a lecture at the Institution. She also was able to meet with the State Trooper who arrested the suspect, Hadi Matar.

Chautauqua Institution President Michael Hill said at Friday’s press briefing that this is an incident unlike anything in the institution’s nearly 150 year history, “We were founded to bring people together in community to learn, and in doing so, to create solutions through action. To develop empathy and to take on intractable problems. Today now, we’re called to take on fear and the worst of all human traits – hate. Our job right now, though, is to continue to support police and others. To be a resource for Mr. Rushdie and Mr. Reece’s family and to begin to imagine a pathway to healing.”

Rushdie remains in critical condition at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he is continuing to receive treatment.

Salman Rushdie’s family’s statement on his condition (Twitter)

The family released a statement on Twitter saying the author was able to be taken off a ventilator Saturday and had been able to speak a little. According to his agent, Rushdie may lose an eye, has nerve damage to an arm, and that his liver was damaged after the stabbing attack on Friday. The other speaker at the event, Henry Reese, was treated and released for a head injury that occurred in the attack.

Matar pleaded not guilty to charges of 2nd Degree Attempted Murder and 2nd Degree Assault at his arraignment Saturday afternoon in Chautauqua County Court.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said the 24-year old residents of Fairview, New Jersey is in the Chautauqua County Jail without bail.

Schmidt said in a statement that search warrants have been signed by County Court Judge Dave Foley. State Police had stated on Friday that a warrant was requested for a backpack and digital device belonging to Matar.

Schmidt said his office has also been in communication with agencies in New Jersey, where Matar is from, to share information and try to determine what kind of planning or preparation might have proceeded the attack to determine what, if any, additional charges should be leveled against Matar.

Chautauqua Institution has announced updated security policies for those visiting or working on the grounds for the remainder of the season.

New York State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen said there will be an increased presence of State Police on the Institution’s grounds as well, “We’re going to do it in conjunction with the County Sheriff and in discussion with members of the Institution staff. Some of it you will see. Some of the commitment you will see will be in terms of uniformed troopers, troopers with K9s, and a lot of what will happen you won’t see. There’ll be investigators doing background work, threat assessments, and other sorts of things that we do.”

For those visiting the Institution, effective immediately, all gate passes and tickets will require identification. Sunday passes and will call purposes passes will now be issued as Ground Access passes, requiring patrons to provide a photo ID at the ticket office. Existing gate passes will be honored as is.

The Institution is also enforcing a “no bag” policy in the Amphitheater and at all indoor performance venues such as Bratton Theater, Norton Hall, Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, Fletcher Music Hall and Hall of Christ. Only small clutches, wristlets, or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5-inches by 6.5-inches will be allowed.

Additionally, all building contractors must present identification matching with an authorized contractor name for Grounds access. Contractors may enter through any Chautauqua gate.

Governor Kathy Hochul announces executive orders, legislation to strengthen gun control laws, combat domestic terrorism (May 18, 2022)

Governor Kathy Hochul introduced an array of executive orders and new legislation Wednesday in response to a mass shooting in Buffalo last week.

The Associated Press reports Hochul’s announcement came days after a White 18-year-old wearing military gear killed 10 Black shoppers and workers at the supermarket using a rifle purchased legally a few months ago.

New York is among states that have a “red flag” law, which allows law enforcement officials to petition a court to take away someone’s guns if they are potentially dangerous because of a mental health problem.

That law was in place last spring when state police questioned the shooting suspect over comments he made as a high school student about wanting to commit a murder-suicide. He was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation under a state mental health law, and released a day and a half later.

State Police did not, however, initiate the court process to temporarily take away the suspect’s access to guns following the incident.

Hochul said state police must now file for extreme risk protection orders under New York’s red flag law when they have probable cause to believe someone is a threat to themselves or others.

According to State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen, State police themselves have successfully applied for 300 of over 1,000 protection orders granted by courts under the red flag law, which became effective in fall 2019.

Hochul said such orders typically last for one year but can be renewed. Courts can bar people from possessing or buying firearms or order them to give up firearms.

Hochul’s executive order mostly affects people who interact with police on the highway or people who live outside of New York City and the state’s biggest communities: New York state police serve the state’s highway system and typically rural communities in need of law enforcement assistance.

New York will also track and try to stop violent domestic extremism on social media through new units in the state police and the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

The new units will fund local threat assessment management teams, as well as track and intervene when people show signs of radicalization through their social media posts. New York will also train law enforcement, school and mental health professionals about the uptick in domestic and homegrown violent extremism and radicalization.

The governor wants lawmakers to pass her bill to make more kinds of guns subject to the state’s firearm laws. Hochul said the nation has almost become desensitized to the devastation of mass shootings and gun violence, and the spread of extremist ideology online.

Attorney General Letitia James simultaneously announced the launch of an investigation into social media companies that the suspected shooter allegedly used to discuss his plans for the killings.

Domestic terror attacks and plots have tripled nationally in the past decade, the governor’s office noted Wednesday. The office stated there were 73 terrorist attacks or unearthed plots in the U.S. last year, including 38 White supremacist and similarly like-minded attacks or plots.