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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 2, 2009: Mayor-Elect Adam Bradley has confirmed to the CitizeNetReporter that David Chong, the Commissioner of Public Safety in Mount Vernon, and former Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety in White Plains will return as Mr. Bradley’s Commissioner of Public Safety beginning January 1.

Early today, the Mayor of Mount Vernon, Clinton Young, announced Mr. Chong had resigned his position with Mount Vernon, obviously clearing the way for him to take the job Mr. Bradley has offered him, and according to Mr. Bradley Mr. Chong has accepted the challenge of becoming Commissioner of Public Safety in White Plains.

Bradley said he was pleased to be bringing back Mr. Chong, who had previously served three and a half years with White Plains, leaving in mid-2005. Chong  has served in Mount Vernon as Commissioner of Public Safety since May, 2006. Bradley described Chong as a person who loves White Plains and is a really skilled Public Safety Commissioner.

Asked if  he, Bradley had talked to present Public Safety Deputy Commissioners Daniel Jackson and John Cullen, who have been rumored to be leaving the department, Bradley said he had not  talked to them.

Bradley observed that  as incoming Mayor, he faced approximately a 15% deficit, at least  $18 to $20 Million in the current budget, and all departments would have to face streamlining.

Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson, asked by WPCNR if he was leaving the department yesterday said “No comment.” Deputy Commissioner Cullen, who is also rumored to be resigning his position has not returned a call for comment.

Mr. Chong brings an impressive set of credentials to White Plains.

Chong brings to Mount Vernon a reputation for streamlining the operations of the White Plains police during his three years with the WPPD, and  street savvy gained from years of undercover work with the NYPD. Chong was known for spearheading public security operations in uniform with his men serving side by side, blending into a crowd and observing proceedings with a hawk-like eye. You never knew he was there until he would come up behind you and say “hello.” When I asked him about this, he once said, “In White Plains we lead from the front, Mr. Bailey.”

 David E. Chong is 51 years of age and served as a Professor of Criminal Justice at Monroe College for a year after leaving his White Plains Deputy Commissioner post, before accepting the Mount Vernon Commissionership.

He served in the Law Enforcement community for approximately 26 years.  Mr. Chong retired as a Lieutenant Commander of Detectives from the New York City Police Department in November of 2002, after over 22 years. 

During Mr. Chong’s career with the New York City Police Department he served in many high profile assignments.  His assignments included the Tactical Patrol Unit as an undercover Detective infiltrating Asian Organized Crime and Gangs, and as a Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Detective Commander in units such as The Mayor’s Social Club Inspectional Task Force, Public Moral Division, Narcotics Division, Organized Crime Investigations Division, Organized Crime Control Bureau, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Homicide Squad. When he retired he was the Commanding Officer of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau’s, Global Intelligence Unit, formed shortly after 9-11-01.

He earned over 119 NYPD awards and medals, and he has been the recipient of over 50 awards from various Federal, State, and Law Enforcement Agencies, and Civic and Fraternal Organizations over his law enforcement career. His honors include the Society of Asian Federal Officer’s “Man of the Year”, The NYPD Asian Jade Society’s “Lifetime Achievement Award”, and the Organization of Chinese Americans‘ “Dynamic Achiever Award”.

He holds an Associates Degree in Business Marketing and Finance from Queensborough Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College, a Graduate Degree in Public Administration from Marist College, is a graduate of the 204th session of the FBI National Academy, and has attended training in Israel on terrorism and suicide bombers.

Mr. Chong was known during his time in White Plains for being front and center when high security was being maintained at public events. He was reported “beloved” by his fellow officers for his willingness and insistence on working patrols with his men.

He once told this reporter, “In White Plains, we lead from the front.”

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of the Governor, David A. Paterson. November 30,2009: Governor Paterson’s Press Office has issued the following letter to constituents and the media commenting on what he expects the legislature to deal with this week at the special session of the State Legislature.

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Governor David Paterson. WPCNR News Archive Photo

The stakes could not be higher for the future of our state.

During the state’s budget battles of the last year, I have fought to do what’s right for the people of New York despite intense opposition from special interests and state legislators who refuse to confront fiscal reality.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been fighting for a deficit reduction program that would close our current $3.2 billion gap in our current fiscal year and reduce the nearly $7 billion next year. We have to make immediate, substantial cuts reducing our spending.

We cannot raise taxes — New Yorkers’ tax burden is already high enough. We should not borrow any more money — it will cost us more in the long run. And we simply cannot spend money that we don’t have. We need responsible solutions to cut the deficit and we need them now.

This is why on Tuesday(November  24), I delivered a clear message to the legislature: cut this deficit with me or give me the power to do it myself.

I have submitted two bills to the legislature.

The first is my Deficit Reduction Program. It is a plan of shared sacrifice with responsible, recurring spending cuts across every area of the budget. It is a road map to putting New York on the road to fiscal recovery.

The second is my Executive Option Proposal. This would grant me, as Governor, a one-time authority to cut our spending, preserve the integrity of our credit rating, and keep New York safely afloat.

The legislature has been choosing to sit on the sidelines while our state risks running out of cash. Running out of cash has severe consequences for the state, just like it would for any family. A cash-strapped New York means delayed payments to schools and critical services hindered. I will not let that happen. This is why I have taken these steps.

In short: if the legislature is unwilling to make the necessary cuts, I will. If the legislature is unwilling to do what needs to be done, I will. If the legislature is unwilling to endure the criticism and the consequences, I will. It is only because the legislature has been plagued by inaction and unwillingness that I have sought these measures.

So far, New York has been able to avoid the devastation suffered by other states. In fact, we’re ahead of nearly every other state. It’s so important that we keep our foundation strong so that we can be ready for the next wave of innovation and new economy jobs.

Please call your legislator and say the time for action is now — and click here to let me know you stand with end the delays, cut our spending and close the deficit. I need your support to help send a powerful message to Albany — the time for playing politics is over and the time for recovery must begin now.

This is a crisis. This is a time for leadership. I’m willing to make the tough choices.

Thank you for standing with me. I’ll always stand with you.


 New Yorkers often ask me how we got into this deficit in the first place. The very short answer is two-fold:

we have declining tax revenues and we’ve suffered from decades of excessive spending.

The legislature has found it easy to increase spending over the years, but now refuses to make the difficult decisions to reduce spending. I believe that if New Yorkers can make those decisions in their own lives and households during these tough economic times, so should our legislature.

Governor David Paterson