By Tim O’Brien, Staff Writer
The Times Union
TROY- City police arrested a state correction officer allegedly for possessing cocaine and a handgun.
Jeffrey M. Matthews, 36, of Watervliet, was already suspended without pay at the time of his arrest, said Linda Foglia, spokeswoman for the state Department of Correctional Services. She declined to say why, though Troy police reports state he was suspended after an earlier arrest in Albany. The charges against him in Albany could not be determined Thursday.
According to Troy police, Matthews was in a parking lot outside the One Stop store at 20 Northern Drive Wednesday shortly before midnight. The store owner called police after spotting that Matthews had a gun.
When police arrived, Matthews identified himself as a New York state correction officer. He had a .357-caliber handgun.
According to court documents, Troy police were told by an official at Coxsackie Correctional Facility that Matthews was suspended from his duties as a peace officer and had been told he can’t carry a firearm.
“He has been an employee since December of 1994. He has worked at Coxsackie since September 1998,” Foglia said.
“He was suspended without pay in October 2006,” Foglia said. “It is a personnel matter, and I cannot discuss the reasons why.”
Matthews was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a felony; and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, criminal impersonation in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, all misdemeanors.
He was arraigned Thursday in City Court and issued a ticket to reappear Jan. 9 with an attorney.
Foglia said Matthews will likely face internal department charges and he could lose his job.
“He will face departmental disciplinary action, but we will await the outcome of the criminal prosecution,” she said. “A person who has peace officer status cannot have a felony conviction.”
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