Colleagues voice support for cop accused of racism

Posted 10/26/21

“To accuse someone of causing the death of another human being is horrific. Even more so when it is an absolute lie,” said Sgt. John Hank of the Town of Montgomery Police …

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Colleagues voice support for cop accused of racism

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“To accuse someone of causing the death of another human being is horrific. Even more so when it is an absolute lie,” said Sgt. John Hank of the Town of Montgomery Police Department.

At the last Montgomery Town Board meeting two weeks ago, local resident Merrick Dammar made serious accusations against Hank, who is a candidate for the position of town police chief. According to Dammar, about nine years ago the officer arrested his friend during a traffic stop, held a taser to his temple and called him a racial slur. Most seriously, Dammar alleged that his friend subsequently passed away weeks later due to shame and depression.

Hank spoke to the town board on Thursday, explaining that all of the allegations are false and a thorough investigation at the time cleared him of any wrongdoing. The written report has been provided to town board members.

“I did not use the word that I’m accused of using during this arrest,” said Sgt. Hank. “The accusation of using that word is vile and not how I speak or conduct myself.”

Furthermore, the board was advised that while the individual arrested is now deceased, he did not pass away until more than two years after the incident.

“To boldly lie about me causing a man’s death discredits everything that was said at the last meeting,” said Hank.

“We are confronted with the accusations of one man, in an attempt to sully the reputation of Sgt. Hank,” said Officer Kenneth Burns, representing the Town of Montgomery PBA. “These statements were slanderous against Sgt. Hank’s reputation and we believe they were made in an attempt to deny Sgt. Hank a well-deserved promotion.”

Burns stated that in the incident nine years ago, the driver refused to comply with orders, tried to leave the scene and physically resisted arrest. Per department policy, a taser was displayed, pointed at the driver’s midsection, after which the driver complied with commands. Further, the driver was dressed in work clothes as a contractor, not in religious attire as alleged. The driver was also 8 years younger, two inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than alleged.

“It’s verifiable, objective facts, falsely related by Mr. Dammar and as such, his statements are not credible. We as a PBA have no doubt that these accusations are false,” said Burns. “Sgt. Hank is a highly respected member of this department. He has been cited for his bravery and life-saving actions many times, throughout his career. We, the PBA, believe Sgt. Hank would make an exemplary chief of police.”

Montgomery Fire Chief Robert Reynolds also spoke at the meeting of his personal opinions of Hank, noting he is a volunteer firefighter in his department and a fellow town police officer.

“Just a few years ago John was involved in an officer involved shooting in the village of Maybrook, in which he put himself in harm’s way after the chief of the Town of Montgomery Police was shot,” said Reynolds.

“When you see that video, he is like a spitting image of what to do in a crisis situation and a shooting,” said Neil Moscato, a town resident who served with the NYSP for more than 34 years. His last post was at the Montgomery barracks as senior investigator, in charge of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “If you see this man in action, there’ll be no doubt—this guy needs to be the chief of Montgomery.”

Maybrook Village Trustee Kevin Greany recalled the day when he heard an officer was down and saw “a hundred cop cars” passing him by on the road, racing to the scene. When he spoke with an officer, his fears were confirmed that it was a Maybrook cop.

One of the officers involved in the incident was his son, who escaped injury. Greany praised Hank’s actions that day.

Andre Ginglovitch, a part-time town police officer, was also present on the day of the shooting. He noted that despite everything that was happening and their police chief having been wounded, “not a bad word” came out of Sgt. Hank’s mouth.

Following the allegations nine years ago, Hank advocated for body-worn cameras to protect the police department from false allegations, among other benefits, but had been unable to the convince the town to invest in them. So he purchased his own and utilized it on patrol, encouraging his fellow officers to follow his lead.

“I wore that body-worn camera on patrol at my own cost for years prior to the department adopting a body-worn camera system earlier this year,” said Sgt. Hank. “When I was asked why I wore that body-worn camera and why I spent my own money to do so, this specific allegation is always what I have brought up.”

Hank has been a volunteer firefighter in Montgomery for 27 years, and an EMT and police officer for more than 20 years. He has served with the Montgomery Town Police for the last 16 years. He is the past chief of the Montgomery Fire Department and has been awarded Firefighter of the Year.

“I am very proud of my life in public service. I always knew I wanted to help people and save lives,” said Sgt. Hank. “This community has made me the man that I am today, and it is a man that I am absolutely proud to be.”

Town Supervisor Brian Maher also read half a dozen letters sent in by residents, business owners and a school administrator, extolling Hank’s selfless dedication, capability, understanding, empathy, training, experience and honesty. They told of personal experiences where Hank helped them in their time of need and saved lives.

Hank said he was “humbled by the outpouring of support” and the community’s continued support “means the world” to him.

Maher said the town board is taking all of the comments from the last two town board meetings into consideration.

“It’s not the end of what we’re going to be doing,” said Maher. “There’s some real problems that we have in our town and I think the last two meetings in the public comment portion has shown that there’s a divide, so it’s my job to heal that divide.”

Maher stated that he had placed the EO 203 on the evening’s agenda as well, as he wanted to update the public and clear up any misinformation. He stated that the town still hopes to make the appointments to the Police Community Advisory Board as early as Nov. 18, noting that they are still conducting interviews.

“By the time the committee is formed, we’ll be in a place where we’ll likely have an idea of who the next chief of police is going to be,” said Maher. “And I think it will time out pretty well and then everybody can work together on acknowledging the problems in our community and getting better. We’re not going to solve them overnight. We can’t.”