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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. June 12, 2021:

A former federal judge will assist the Westchester District Attorney’s Office (WDAO) in its review of two previous police-involved shootings in Westchester that led to the deaths of county residents Danroy Henry and Kenneth Chamberlain, as well as the subsequent handling of these matters by the WDAO, DA Miriam E. Rocah announced Thursday..

Danroy Henry, Jr., known as DJ, was killed on October 17, 2010 when officers shot at Henry’s moving vehicle. He was 20 years old and a student at Pace University.

Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., a 68-year-old former U.S. Marine who suffered from mental illness, was shot and killed in his home on November 19, 2011, following a confrontation with White Plains police after they responded to an accidental medical alert. At points during the confrontation, Mr. Chamberlain possessed a knife.

In the months following these two incidents, the Henry and Chamberlain shootings were reviewed by WDAO prosecutors who ultimately presented evidence and witnesses to grand juries, whose role was to determine whether that evidence was sufficient to support the criminal charges that prosecutors presented. In both cases, no indictment was returned by the grand juries and the proceedings were automatically sealed by the court.

The current reviews will be conducted internally by designated Assistant District Attorneys and investigators who have been selected for this task by DA Rocah, with the assistance of a team of pro bono attorneys led by John Gleeson, a Debevoise & Plimpton LLP partner who previously served as a U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of New York and who was also a federal prosecutor.

The pro bono team includes Debevoise & Plimpton LLP counsel Douglas S. Zolkind, a former federal public corruption prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and associates from the firm. Judge Gleeson and Mr. Zolkind have been sworn in as Special Assistant District Attorneys for purposes of the review.

“For the families of Kenneth Chamberlain and DJ Henry, the pain of their loss has not gone away over the past 10 years, nor have the questions they have about why their loved ones were killed,” DA Rocah said. “The Chamberlain and Henry families and many members of the Westchester community have asked me to review the circumstances of the shootings, the investigation and charging decisions by the DA’s Office, and the grand juries’ decision not to return indictments in either case. Today, I am announcing that I will do exactly that.

“Some may ask, why look backwards? The reason is simple: Today, we have appropriately higher expectations have for scrutiny of police encounters with mentally ill and unarmed people and for prosecutors’ responses to such incidents,” DA Rocah added. “The Henry and Chamberlain families and our community have felt strongly that further independent review is needed to heal the open wounds from these shootings. It is in that spirit that this review will be undertaken.

“I want to be very clear: While I have chosen to conduct this review, I am in no way pre-judging the outcome. At this point, I cannot say whether any further action should be taken,” DA Rocah said. “I can say that further action beyond the review will only be taken if the facts and law warrant it. I will make the final determination on what, if any, additional steps are appropriate.”

“Because the District Attorney’s Office played a central role in the original investigation and presentation to the grand juries, I believe that having Judge Gleeson participate in the review and make recommendations to me is the best way to proceed,” DA Rocah said. “Judge Gleeson’s record as a federal judge has earned him widely-held respect and a reputation for fairness and integrity, which I saw firsthand when I served as a law clerk for him many years ago. I am so pleased that he agreed to take on this important task.”

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from Berkeley College. (Edited) June 10, 2021:

Berkeley College, a leading provider of career-focused education since 1931, will consolidate its White Plains, NY campus with its New York City campus by the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Berkeley College has been educating students in New York City since 1936 and in Westchester County since 1945. 

Berkeley College is re-envisioning its New York City campus, with facilities in Midtown Manhattan at 3 East 43^rd Street and 12 East 41^st Street. Plans are underway to consolidate all classrooms, offices, and operations into the 41st Street building over the next 12 months.

The White Plains campus is currently running all classes online this semester as it has done the past three semesters and all of their fall classes are listed as online. Continuing students will be offered the option to complete their studies at the New York City campus, online, or at any of Berkeley College’s New Jersey campuses. Alternative arrangements will be made for the handful of students currently in campus housing.

“The challenges brought on by the pandemic and other factors were the impetus for the consolidation of the campus with our New York City campus,” said Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College. “We are grateful for the support so many of the governing officials, business leaders and community organizations have shown us over the years,” said Smith. “Berkeley College remains committed to serving the residents and businesses of Westchester County through our New York City campus.”

Smith said throughout the country, declining enrollments and an increasing reliance on changing instructional modalities, including remote and hybrid approaches, have reduced the need for physical classrooms and offices. “One centralized campus in Midtown Manhattan will best position the College to serve our students,” he said.

In addition to transferring students and personnel, the College will be working with federal and state regulators, along with its accrediting agencies, during this transition.