Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner
Yonkers Police Department Media Release
YONKERS, NY – October 8, 2014 — Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner announced today that Yonkers Police Detective Christian Koch and Police Officer Neil Vera were charged in a criminal indictment relating to a March 21st incident in which they allegedly made false statements in order to secure a search warrant.
The multiple count indictment charges Detective Koch, a 13 year veteran of the department, with one count of Perjury in the second degree and one count of Official Misconduct. Police Officer Vera, a 7 year veteran of the department was charged with one count of Perjury in the Second Degree, one count of Falsifying Business Records, one count of Making a Punishable False Written Statement, three counts of Official Misconduct, and one count of Conspiracy in the Sixth Degree.
Christian Koch
Neil Vera
Detective Koch and Police Officer Vera were arrested by Yonkers Police Internal Affairs investigators, relieved from duty and suspended without pay pending the service of formal disciplinary charges. Both Officers were later arraigned in Westchester County Court and both were released on their own recognizance.
At the time of the incident, Yonkers Police Internal Affairs investigators responded to the scene and immediately initiated an investigation. The Westchester County District Attorney’ Office was notified and an assistant district attorney also responded to the scene, where a joint investigation was commenced. We continue to work closely with the District attorney’s office on this matter.
“Members of the Yonkers Police Department must be held to the highest standard and we will not tolerate any deviation from the law,” said Commissioner Gardner, adding, “This matter involves but a single incident concerning two members of the department, and should not detract from the outstanding job that the men and women of this department do every day to protect the public. Nonetheless, even a single incident is one too many, and these two officers must now face both criminal charges and department discipline in relation to this incident.”
The charges relate to a March 21st search warrant issued for premises at 141 School Street in Yonkers. The investigation to date indicates the occupant of the apartment, Dario Tena, attempted to flee from an apartment window and fell resulting in a serious head injury and he subsequently expired at a local hospital. Police recovered a quantity of narcotics from the scene
Although the initial investigation was commenced because of the fatality, it led to the discovery of inconsistencies in the affidavit for the search warrant ultimately resulting in the criminal indictments.
“Substantiated allegations of perjury in the course of police work undermines the level of confidence in the criminal justice system and will not be tolerated in this agency” stated Commissioner Gardner in relation to the charges.
NOTE: Booking charges are merely accusations, and the suspect(s) are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
SOURCE: Yonkers Police Department Office of Communications.
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Comments 11
by the way who the fuck is Michael Rubin….if I was Koch I be looking for a better criminal lawyer……..
so im reading this mornings news paper and I almost spilled my coffee on my self when keith was quoted ,’they are the best we have to offer, they deserve the benefit of the doubt’. keith vera used a c.i.number that the guy was in another state LOCKED UP.keith your a liar and so is vera as far as Koch goes I believe he got railroaded,and not fornothing but shouldn’t Koch get Quinn and vera get rubin after all Koch does have more time on the job,but I guess as long as vera is your trustee fuck Koch right…………………….
Thought you said Quinn sucked? Which one is it? Lol
he does but rubin seems worse
Why do you say that?
Feds are focusing in but not on ypd.
more indictments to come …………………
You guys know that your in over your head. Look what Jeanine Pirro did to me word is Janet is going to make a lot off press time and examples out of the 2 of you guys. Make your deals
You don’t want to be here behind the WALL .
HEY U DO DIRT U GET DIRT ITS JUST THAT SIMPLE! ITS SO SAD THAT THESE GUYS THINK ITS OK TO LIE AND GET BULLSHIT SEARCH WARRANTS, IAM VERY SURE THEY BEEN DOING SHIT LIKE THIS OR WORSE THERE WHOLE CAREER’S. THAT SAYS ALOT ABOUT YPD BOSSE’S. I DONT FEEL BAD FOR THEM THEY DESERVE TO LOOSE THERE JOBS AND BE PUT IN JAIL JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON THAT BREAKS THE LAW.
Please post length of imprisonment sentences on each charge .
Thankyou, Kindly.
Now that’s funny. No pay check that hurts.