Regional Briefs – June 24, 2018

Ex-Prosecutors to Review NYPD’s Discipline Process

NEW YORK – The NYPD on Thursday said that a pair of former top federal prosecutors and a special master will be reviewing its disciplinary process and issue recommendations within four months. Ex-U.S. Attorneys Mary Jo White and Robert Capers and ex-judge Barbara Jones will investigate whether penalties are fair and effective.

Service Dog Gets Own Photo in School Yearbook

VESTAL, N.Y. – An autistic child’s service dog got his own yearbook photo, the Press & Sun-Bulletin reported. Oscer accompanies eighth-grader Hudson Golebiewski, 14, to the Vestal Middle School. The assistant principal thought of the idea and Hudson loved it.

State Lawmaker Wants End to ‘Cash for Cars’ Signs

NEW YORK – A state senator is so sick of illegal “Cash for Cars” signs going up around his Queens district he wants a crackdown, WCBS reported. Democrat Tony Avella says most companies putting up the signs use prepaid phones, which makes them difficult to track.

Man Convicted of Escaping ICE Custody at JFK

BROOKLYN – An illegal immigrant was convicted Friday for escaping federal custody in Kennedy Airport last year, The Associated Press reported. A jury was shown a video of Mohamadou Lamine Mbacke dashing through the airport after he ducked away from agents preparing to deport him to Senegal.

Woman Seriously Injured in 100-foot Fall Down Cliff

TENAFLY, N.J. – A woman was seriously injured Saturday after surviving a 100-foot fall down a cliff face at a nature sanctuary, NJ.com reported. The 31-year-old Ridgefield Park resident fell from the top of Greenbrook Waterfall which has a “rugged, steep cliff side.”

Toys R Us Giraffe Statue Goes to Children’s Hospital

WAYNE, N.J. – The famed 16-foot tall statue of Geoffrey the Giraffe that greeted visitors at Toys R Us headquarters will be moved to a children’s hospital to comfort patients, NJ.com reported. The bankrupt toy company had put the 550-pound fiberglass figure up for sale.