Troy Police Hand Over Additional Files to FBI as Pastors Seek Probe into Alleged Brutality and Civil Rights Violations

The Troy Police Department has transferred additional records to the FBI, according to department sources. These files relate to older cases that were referenced in a letter sent by the Troy African American Pastoral Alliance to the U.S. Department of Justice and Richard Hartunian, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. The department has continued to cooperate with the FBI’s requests for records, as stated by Capt. Terry Buchanan of Internal Affairs.

The letter from the pastors requested an investigation into the department’s handling of specific cases, citing concerns over potential police brutality and civil rights violations. Pastor Willie Bacote of the Missing Link AME Zion Church, who led the drafting of the complaint, expressed satisfaction with the FBI’s response. The cases mentioned include incidents such as the Jan. 25 bar melee at Kokopellis, where an officer was filmed striking patron Roshawon Donley with a baton, and other cases involving individuals who have pursued legal action against the city.

Among the cases cited are those of James Foley, who received a $90,000 settlement after suing the city in 2010; John Larkins, whose 2011 arrest was later deemed justifiable by a police investigation; Brian Houle, whose $3 million civil rights lawsuit is still pending; and Lawrence Nesmith, whose 2013 altercation with an officer is under internal affairs review. An earlier FBI request for records was fulfilled following a request by Chief John Tedesco to investigate a December 2012 incident that remains pending.

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee is also examining police responses to incidents like the Kokopellis bar melee. Councilman Robert Doherty, who chairs the committee, noted the importance of the U.S. Department of Justice reviewing these cases and emphasized the need for an objective approach to protect civil rights. The ongoing collaboration between the Troy Police Department and the FBI reflects a commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing concerns raised by the community.

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