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| Matthew Taggard |
06/29/2012
By Jeremiah Horrigan
LAKE KATRINE — Town of Ulster police Chief Matthew Taggard has been arrested on a charge of official misconduct and relieved of his duties as a police officer by the Town Board.
Taggard was arrested Thursday after a three-month investigation by the Ulster County District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Holley Carnright said Taggard failed to report a criminal, nonconsensual sexual act involving an underage male in the Village of Saugerties in mid-March.
"He was aware of criminal conduct as a police officer, and he took no action," Carnright said.
Carnright emphasized that while Taggard is not accused of sexual misconduct, he was the target of a state police investigation several years ago, before he was appointed chief, into sexual misconduct involving underage individuals.
Although that investigation did not result in Taggard's arrest, Carnright said he felt the previous investigation was "germane" to Thursday's charge but declined to specify why.
Carnright also said that the alleged sexual crime in Saugerties did not involve another police officer.
Taggard was arraigned before Saugerties Justice Robert Rightmyer and freed on $1,000 bail. Rightmyer ordered Taggard to surrender his firearms and to remain in Ulster County.
Carnright said he met with the Town Board to explain the charge against Taggard. The board voted unanimously to place Taggard on administrative leave with pay at a special meeting Thursday evening. The exact amount of his salary was not available.
Supervisor Jim Quigley said shortly before the meeting that Taggard "is held in high esteem" by other officers in the department. Reading from a prepared statement, he said it had been "a difficult day" for the town, but assured residents he and the board are "closely monitoring this fluid situation" and will take any "appropriate steps" once the investigation is completed.
Town police Lt. Anthony Cruise was named the officer in charge of the department at that same special meeting. Quigley said the town's police contract is still being researched to see if Cruise is entitled to additional pay while he is running the department.
A request for comment left on Taggard's voice mail went unanswered Thursday.
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