ALBANY - A recently retired state police forensic scientist was found dead at his home Friday, the second apparent suicide of a state police veteran in just more than a week, according to a state officials.
Gary Veeder, 58, had retired from the state police crime laboratory on May 7 after 31 years of service, but was still on the payroll using accrued leave time, said state police spokesman Lt. Glenn Miner. Veeder was found at his home in the Albany suburb of New Scotland.
The death follows an audit of the crime lab where Veeder worked. State police said it has nothing to do with claims a rogue unit of state police served the political interests of former governors George Pataki and Eliot Spitzer.
“We are currently conducting an investigation resulting from a recently completed audit of protocols and procedures at the forensic laboratory,” Miner said.
Friday's death “is an unfortunate tragedy that does not have any relationship at all to the pending investigation of the office of the attorney general,” he said, referring to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's ongoing probe of accusations state police engaged in political dirty tricks.
On Tuesday, the former head of Pataki's security detail was buried in Orange County. Retired Inspector Gary Berwick was found dead at his home May 15.
Veeder's death shocked the already shattered ranks of state police.
“The State Troopers PBA was saddened to hear of the unexpected death, apparently by suicide, of a forensic scientist employed by the New York State Police,” said union President Daniel De Federicis.
“The PBA did not represent this individual in our union, and therefore we are not privy to the details of this incident,” he said. “However, the PBA recognizes this loss is certainly tragic, and our hearts go out to the scientist's family, friends and co-workers.”
The state police have been hit hard by suicide this year.
In April, a 35-year-old trooper was found dead in his suburban Albany home. Lt. Joseph Banish apparently killed himself after he was notified that he'd face discipline for an inappropriate relationship with a woman at the state police academy, according to published reports. He was assigned to the traffic section of division headquarters.
AP-ES-05-23-08 1746EDT
The death follows an audit of the crime lab where Veeder worked. State police said it has nothing to do with claims a rogue unit of state police served the political interests of former governors George Pataki and Eliot Spitzer.
“We are currently conducting an investigation resulting from a recently completed audit of protocols and procedures at the forensic laboratory,” Miner said.
Friday's death “is an unfortunate tragedy that does not have any relationship at all to the pending investigation of the office of the attorney general,” he said, referring to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's ongoing probe of accusations state police engaged in political dirty tricks.
On Tuesday, the former head of Pataki's security detail was buried in Orange County. Retired Inspector Gary Berwick was found dead at his home May 15.
Veeder's death shocked the already shattered ranks of state police.
“The State Troopers PBA was saddened to hear of the unexpected death, apparently by suicide, of a forensic scientist employed by the New York State Police,” said union President Daniel De Federicis.
“The PBA did not represent this individual in our union, and therefore we are not privy to the details of this incident,” he said. “However, the PBA recognizes this loss is certainly tragic, and our hearts go out to the scientist's family, friends and co-workers.”
The state police have been hit hard by suicide this year.
In April, a 35-year-old trooper was found dead in his suburban Albany home. Lt. Joseph Banish apparently killed himself after he was notified that he'd face discipline for an inappropriate relationship with a woman at the state police academy, according to published reports. He was assigned to the traffic section of division headquarters.
AP-ES-05-23-08 1746EDT
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