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(Albany, NY - May 27, 2008) - Today Governor David Paterson joined Superintendent Harry Corbitt to recognize twelve recently promoted New York State Police Executive Staff members and Commissioned Officers.
Superintendent Corbitt was sworn in by the Honorable Helena Heath-Roland, Albany City Court Judge. Governor Paterson nominated Superintendent Corbitt on March 24, 2008. The New York State Senate confirmed him as the 13th Superintendent of the New York State Police on April 16, 2008.
"The State Police has a strong legacy of producing top-notch law enforcement professionals who behold the values of duty, honor and courage," said Governor Paterson. “The individuals being honored today will guide and shape the future of the New York State Police. It is an honor for me to participate in a ceremony formally recognizing the promotions of these fine women and men to these leadership positions.”
Superintendent Corbitt, said, “I congratulate these honorees. They have demonstrated throughout their careers the courage to accept the many challenges associated with leadership. These fine individuals have pledged to serve with integrity, lead with compassion and determination, and remain true to the agency’s vision. I am confident that they will continue this agency’s proud, longstanding tradition of service to the people of the State of New York.”
Colonel Deborah J. Campbell was the Master of Ceremonies. Colonel Campbell was recently reassigned from her former position as Deputy Superintendent, Division Headquarters – Human Resources to the Office of the Superintendent as a special liaison to the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Colonel Campbell has been with the Division State Police since October 1983.
The following State Police Employees were recognized today:
Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt:
Harry J. Corbitt served 25 years with the New York State Police, retiring in 2004, before Governor David A. Paterson asked him to return to service as Superintendent of the Division of State Police. The New York State Senate received Governor Paterson’s nomination on March 24, 2008 and voted unanimously to confirm Mr. Corbitt as Superintendent on April 16, 2008. He has the distinction of being the first African-American in the history of the State Police to hold the agency’s highest rank.
Superintendent Corbitt joined the State Police on February 20, 1978 and served as a trooper in Troop E until 1984. In 1984, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Basic School at the New York State Police Academy. In 1988, he was appointed to the position of Zone Sergeant. Following his promotion to Lieutenant, he was assigned first to the Traffic Services Division at Division Headquarters and later to the State Police Academy. He was promoted to Captain in 1991.
In 1993, he was promoted to Major and assumed command of Troop T on the New York State Thruway. He was promoted to Staff Inspector in 1994 and assigned to Employee Relations where he focused on the issue of racial profiling. In Employee Relations he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and then to Colonel, becoming the Deputy Superintendent for Employee Relations in 1997. In 2001, he became Deputy Superintendent in charge of Internal Affairs, where he served until his retirement in 2004.
A life term member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Superintendent Corbitt served as the Region One Vice President for that organization from 2003 to 2007. He has appeared nationally on panels conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and assisted in development of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Ethics and Integrity Manual. He has also served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Center of American and International Law Institute for Law Enforcement Administration. Prior to his appointment as Superintendent, he was the Director of Safe Schools and Violence Prevention for the City of Albany School District.
From 1966 to 1972, Superintendent Corbitt served in the United States Army in the Military Intelligence Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces.
First Deputy Superintendent Pedro J. Perez:
First Deputy Superintendent Pedro J. Perez entered Division service on October 19, 1981. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop A. He was a member of the Mobile Response Team (MRT) from 1984-1992, serving as its West Team Leader from 1988 -1992. In 1987, he was promoted to Technical Sergeant – Assistant Affirmative Action Officer and in 1988 was promoted to Sergeant – Field Station/Patrol Operations. In 1989, he was assigned to Troop A as an Investigator, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant in 1992, serving in the Bureau Criminal Investigation. In 1994, he was promoted to Captain, BCI, as the commander of the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team. Later in 1994, he was promoted to Major and assigned as Troop Commander, Troop A. In 1997, he was promoted to Staff Inspector – Internal Affairs – Narcotics/Forensics Unit, eventually serving as a Staff Inspector in the BCI as the Division-wide Narcotics Commander. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Bureau of Criminal Investigation. In March 2007, he was promoted to Deputy Superintendent, Internal Affairs Bureau, later that same year he became Deputy Superintendent, Field Commander. On April 17, 2008, he was elevated to the rank of First Deputy Superintendent.
Deputy Superintendent Anthony G. Ellis, Internal Affairs:
Colonel Ellis entered Division service on October 19, 1981. After serving as a uniformed Trooper in Troops E and F, he was promoted to Sergeant in 1989. In 1994, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served in Troops A, C and NYC. In 1998, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to Troop T. In 1999, he was promoted to Major and assigned to oversee the New York State Park Police. In 2002, he was promoted to Staff Inspector and soon returned to the Internal Affairs Bureau. In 2003, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to Human Resources. He then assumed command of the State Division of Parole, before returning to the State Police Administration and Internal Affairs Bureau. On April 17, 2008, Colonel Ellis was elevated to the rank of Deputy Superintendent in charge of the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Assistant Deputy Superintendent Patricia M. Groeber, Internal Affairs:
Colonel Groeber entered Division service on September 22, 1986. After serving as a uniformed Trooper in Troops G and T, she was promoted to Sergeant in 1991 and was assigned to the SP Laboratory, SP Academy and Troop G. In 1997, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served assignments in Troop A, Planning and Research, Internal Affairs and Troop G. In 2001, she was appointed to Captain – Zone Commander, Troop T. In 2002, she was appointed to the Executive Services Detail as the Capital Detail Commander. In 2006, she was promoted to Major and served as Director of Traffic Services and then as Troop Commander of Troop G. On April 17, 2008, Colonel Groeber was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and assigned as the Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Internal Affairs/Investigations.
Major William S. Sprague:
Major Sprague entered Division service on February 20, 1978. After serving as a uniformed Trooper in Troop K, he was appointed to Investigator in 1982, and assigned to SP Manhattan followed by Troop G and the Academy. In 1990, he was promoted to Lieutenant, BCI in the Crime Analysis Unit at Division Headquarters. In 2002, he was promoted to Captain, BCI, Division Headquarters, Internal Affairs Bureau. In 2004, he was transferred to Troop G as Uniform Force Captain, assigned as Zone Commander. In 2006, he was assigned as the BCI Captain of Troop G. On April 17, 2008, he was promoted to Major, to serve as the Troop Commander of Troop G.
Major Robin H. Benziger:
Major Benziger entered Division service on October 3, 1983. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop K, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1989 and transferred to Troop B. In 1990, she transferred back to Troop K as a Sergeant. In 1993, she was promoted to Lieutenant, Zone Commander and assigned to Troop D and then transferred to the Executive Services Detail as the Assistant Detail Commander. In 1996, she was elevated to the rank of Captain. In 1997, she was assigned as the Assistant Director of Training at the State Police Academy. In 2000, she was assigned as a Zone Commander in Troop G and then reassigned as Captain/Zone Commander in Troop K. Her promotion to the rank of Major was effective May 15, 2008 and she has been appointed Director of Training at the New York State Police Academy.
Major Bryon D. Christman:
Major Christman entered Division service on March 24, 1986 and served as a uniformed Trooper in Troops D and G and in Employee Relations at Division Headquarters. In 1990, he was appointed to the rank of Technical Sergeant and later attained the permanent rank of Sergeant where he served with Division Traffic Services. In 1994, he was promoted to Technical Lieutenant and assigned to the Office of Human Resources where he subsequently attained the permanent rank of Lieutenant. In 2006, he was promoted to Captain in Field Command at Division Headquarters. In 2007, he was reassigned as Captain in the Office of Human Resources. On May 15, 2008, he was elevated to Major and assigned as Director of Human Resources.
Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management, Pamela T. Sharpe:
Director Sharpe entered Division service on February 20, 1978. After serving as a uniformed Trooper in Troop A, she was promoted to Technical Sergeant in Division Headquarters, Traffic Section attaining the permanent rank of Sergeant in 1991. The following year, she was promoted to Zone Sergeant, in the Personnel Section. In 1998, she was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In 2000, she was promoted to Technical Lieutenant, assigned to Personnel-Employee Staffing. On May 15, 2008, she was promoted to Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management, Division Headquarters, Office of Human Resources.
Captain Scott P. Coburn, Internal Affairs:
Captain Coburn entered Division service on March 12, 1984. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop K, he was appointed to the rank of Investigator in 1989. In 1995, he was promoted to the permanent rank of Sergeant and served in Troops T and K. In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, where he served in Division Headquarters and Troop G. Recently, he was elevated to the rank of Captain in the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Captain Michael A. Jankowiak, Field Command:
Captain Jankowiak entered Division service on March 29, 1990. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop K, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Troop K in 1996. In 1999, he was appointed to Station Commander in Troop K. In 2000, he was appointed to Zone Sergeant in Troop K. In 2001, he was promoted to BCI Lieutenant in Troop A and then transferred back to Troop K as a Uniform Lieutenant. On May 15, 2008, he was elevated to the rank of Uniform Captain and assigned to Field Command.
Lieutenant Mark W. Bellinger, Internal Affairs:
Lieutenant Bellinger entered Division service on September 19, 1988. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troops K and G, he was promoted to Sergeant in Troop K in 2001. In 2004, he was promoted to Sergeant/Station Commander in Troop G. In 2007, he was promoted to Zone Sergeant in Troop G. He was promoted to Lieutenant on May 15, 2008 assigned to Division Headquarters, Internal Affairs Bureau.
Lieutenant James J. Greenwood, Troop B:
Lieutenant Greenwood entered Division service on March 30, 1987. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop D, he was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 where he served in Troops B and D. In 1999, he was appointed Sergeant/Station Commander in Troop D. In 2004, he was appointed Investigator and served in Troop D and with the Oneida Gaming Detail. On May 15, 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop B.
Lieutenant Salvatore S. Mecca, Internal Affairs:
Lieutenant Mecca entered Division service on October 7, 1991. After serving initially as a uniformed Trooper in Troop F and the Executive Services Detail, he was promoted to Sergeant with Troop F in 2004. In 2006, he was promoted to Station Commander in Troop F. On May 15, 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant in Division Headquarters, Internal Affairs Bureau.
Bio information for Judge Helena Heath-Roland (issuing oath of office to Superintendent Corbitt):
On April 22, 2005, Judge Helena Heath-Roland was appointed Albany City Court Judge to fill a vacancy on that Court. She was then elected on November 8, 2005 to a full term of office. Judge Heath-Roland is the first female of African descent to serve in this position in the City of Albany’s history. She is primarily assigned to the Civil and Traffic Parts of City Court where she presides over trials and proceedings, including small claims and housing cases. She also handles arraignments and other criminal matters in the Criminal Part of City Court.
Judge Heath-Roland graduated from New York University School of Law in 1987 where she was awarded the prestigious Root-Tilden-Snow Scholarship based upon her academic excellence and commitment to public service law.
During law school, she pursued her interest in becoming a public service attorney by working for the Legal Aid Society and volunteering to assist at risk youth obtain summer employment.
Judge Heath-Roland has 20 years of legal experience serving as a Court Attorney at the New York Court of Appeals, an Assistant Attorney General in the litigation unit, a counsel to the New York State Department of Economic Development, and most recently a senior counsel for the New York State Assembly Speaker.
Judge Heath-Roland is deeply committed to the well being of children and families. She has represented children as a Law Guardian in Albany County Family Court and Supreme Court. She organized a local effort that resulted in establishing a Children’s Center at Albany County Family Court in 1994.
The Center provides a safe haven for children while their caregivers take care of court business. Judge Heath-Roland has served as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Children’s Center since its inception.
Judge Heath-Roland is currently Co-Chair of the Diversity and Gender Fairness Committee of the Capital District Women's Bar Association, and Chair of the Youth and Law Committee of the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association.
Judge Heath-Roland is married to Baryon Roland. They are members of the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. Their son, Christopher, is currently a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.