Bethlehem police dispatchers say coworker is dangerous and administration ignores complaints
Several dispatchers in the Bethlehem Police Department say they’re fearful for their safety now that a suspended employee is set to return to work, and that their superiors are failing to respond to complaints about the connected coworker.
Several town employees, speaking on separate occasions and on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said dispatcher Eric Kerr has during his time in the Police Department created a hostile atmosphere that culminated with his threatening coworkers in April, leading to an unpaid suspension.
Employee complaints obtained by The Spotlight describe Kerr using profanity, throwing paperwork and threatening to get even with coworkers in an April 14 incident after he was supposedly reprimanded for leaving his post.
The following day, he was served the 30-day suspension. According to sources, Kerr has been disciplined in the past for showing internal documents to people outside the department, screaming an obscenity at a coworker, throwing objects and other offenses.
Efforts to reach Kerr for this story were unsuccessful.
Eric Kerr is the son of James Kerr, a sergeant in the Bethlehem Police Department, former chief of the Delmar Fire Department and current president of the Bethlehem Firefighters Association. Kerr also works part time as an Albany County EMT (a representative said he has no ongoing disciplinary actions there).
Personnel files, including disciplinary records, are generally not available under the state’s Freedom of Information Law, but sources said Kerr has accumulated many disciplinary charges during his few years in the department and has had more than one `last chance.`
In April of 2010, Kerr was arrested by Bethlehem police on charges he pointed a handgun at an ex-girlfriend during a domestic dispute. The charges were later dropped. The Albany County District Attorney’s office stated it was `unable to satisfy the burden of proof without the testimony of witnesses in the case.` A source close to the case said it was because the alleged victim would not testify against Kerr, who was on paid suspension for more than seven months while the case was ongoing.
Now Kerr, who is referred to as `Teflon Kerr` by some dispatchers for his apparent ability to skirt disciplinary actions, is set to return to work in the coming days after completing his 30-day suspension and anger management classes. Several of his coworkers said he’s unfit to be working and that they’re afraid to be in the same room with him.
`He’s out of control, he’s really angry, and he doesn’t see anything wrong with it,` one police dispatcher said.
Town employees said concerns have been taken to Police Department administration, to the dispatchers union and to Town Hall, but little if anything has been done to address them.
Dispatchers said it was made clear the union is supporting Kerr and that union leadership shunned complaints.
`The town is supposed to protect [the complainants], and the union is protecting Eric,` one dispatcher was reportedly told.
As the last day of Kerr’s suspension approached, records show letters were written to the town’s Human Resources Department, to the Town Board and to the supervisor, saying questions about the suspension were not being answered by police administration.
A meeting was scheduled for May 19 with Human Resources Director Mary Tremblay-Glassman, Police Chief Louis Corsi and other members of the Police Department. Members of the telecommunications department said Corsi grew angry with the complaining dispatchers for bringing the matter outside the department.
Corsi denied this, and said the meeting doesn’t ring a bell.
`I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m in meetings all the time,` he told The Spotlight on Monday, June 6.
`We don’t do business that way,` he continued, adding that labor counsel would be the lead on any such talks.
Town representatives, including Corsi, declined to discuss Kerr’s employment in any but the broadest of terms. Town Supervisor Sam Messina said he’s aware of Kerr’s suspension but declined to discuss specifics of the town’s response because it’s a personnel matter and thus confidential.
`I can’t talk any more about an internal matter like that,` he said. `We are aware of their concerns, there’s been a meeting held with the telecommunicators [dispatchers], and we are doing everything necessary and appropriate for our employees.`
Messina said he was not at the aforementioned meeting.
Some in town employment don’t want to work with Kerr again, especially in close quarters.
`He’s going to come back and he’s going to be angry,` said one employee. `He’s going to have a chip on his shoulder.`
`In his mind, he’s won,` said another. `When he comes back, what is he going to do?`
The issue was thrust into the public eye on Monday, May 30, when embattled police officer Christopher Hughes placed signs along the route of the Memorial Day Parade alleging violence in the dispatcher’s office. Days later, he protested on the lawn of Town Hall with more signs.
Town police and code enforcement officers took the signs down. Town Attorney James Potter said the town’s zoning code prohibits signs from being placed on town property, with limited exceptions.
`He has a right to carry a sign in protest … but he does not have a right to place signs on town property,` Potter said.
Hughes said he acted on behalf of dispatchers.
`This isn’t about me,` he said. `This is about those poor dispatchers and what they have to put up with.`
Hughes has been the subject of controversy in Bethlehem after blowing the whistle on a racial slur used by Corsi, being placed on disability leave from the force and then filing a lawsuit against the town and police department for full reinstatement, a clean disciplinary record and compensation for damages.“
