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Troopers Issue Nearly 14,000 Tickets, Arrest 155 For Impaired Driving During Campaign Over The Thanksgiving Holiday

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State Police issued 13,887 tickets during this year’s Thanksgiving traffic enforcement initiative, which targeted unsafe driving behaviors during the holiday weekend. The special traffic enforcement period, which is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, ran from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29. State Troopers also arrested 155 people for DWI and investigated 757 crashes, including three fatalities, during the holiday period. The three fatal crashes that NYSP responded to occurred in Allegany, Nassau and Orange counties.

“Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs endangers every single traveler on the road, and it simply will not be tolerated,” said Governor Cuomo. “Not only during the holidays, but at all times, the message is clear – be responsible and drive sober or make plans for finding a safe ride home. It’s literally that simple and by following those rules, our roads will be safer and lives will be saved.”

The State Police supplemented regular patrols statewide during this crackdown with fixed sobriety checkpoints, an underage drinker initiative and the “Operation Hang Up” initiative, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Acting State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, “I commend our Troopers and our local law enforcement partners for the work they do each day to keep our roads safe. State Police will continue to be highly visible throughout the holiday season, looking out for reckless and aggressive drivers. We urge drivers to do their part by making the right choices when they get behind the wheel – drive sober, follow posted speed limits and put away your smart phones.”

GTSC Chair and DMV Commissioner Mark J. F. Schroeder said, “I applaud all law enforcement who took part in this mobilization to keep our roads as safe as possible. We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season. No one’s holiday memories should be marred by a needless tragedy. If you plan to drink as part of your celebration, please do not drive. Having a plan to designate a sober driver or arrange a ride home could save a life.”

As part of the enforcement, Troopers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Below is a sampling of the total tickets that were issued.

Speeding 4,871

Distracted Driving 228

Seatbelt violations 1,825

Move Over Law 188

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Pomona Man Arrested After Stolen Vehicle Alert Leads Police to Narcotics Investigation

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A stolen vehicle alert led Haverstraw police to a 49-year-old Pomona man who authorities say was found with a large quantity of narcotics.

According to the Haverstraw Police Department, officers were alerted Tuesday, Aug. 11, after a license plate reader notification indicated that a stolen vehicle was entering the Village of Haverstraw.

Police later located the vehicle in Pomona and took the occupant into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as Diamond Dickerson, 49, of Pomona.

During the investigation, police said Dickerson was found in possession of a large quantity of narcotics.

Dickerson was charged with:

  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug/Stimulant with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree with Intent to Sell, a Class D felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree — Motor Vehicle, a Class E felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor

Dickerson was transported to the Haverstraw Police Department for processing before being arraigned in West Haverstraw Village Justice Court.

He was remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility.

The Haverstraw Police Department said the investigation was conducted with assistance from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Rockland County Intelligence Center.

The charges are allegations. A criminal complaint is not proof of guilt, and Dickerson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Pearl River’s Paula Bohovesky Killer Headed Back to Prison

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More than four decades after the murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky, one of the men convicted in her death is headed back to state prison after repeatedly violating parole.

Robert McCain, who was convicted along with Richard LaBarbera in Bohovesky’s 1980 murder, was granted parole in 2021 after spending roughly 40 years behind bars.

Since his release, McCain has returned to custody multiple times. His parole has now been revoked following three violations, according to recent reports.

Murder of Paula Bohovesky

Bohovesky was 16 when she was killed on Oct. 28, 1980, while walking home after working at the Pearl River Public Library.

The Pearl River High School student was attacked and killed in a case that shocked the community and remained in the public spotlight for decades.

McCain and LaBarbera were later convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The two men eventually became eligible for parole after serving decades behind bars.

LaBarbera was released on parole in 2019. McCain was granted parole in 2021, despite opposition from Bohovesky’s family and members of the Pearl River community.

McCain’s Return to Custody

McCain’s release did not mark the end of his involvement with the criminal justice system.

In July 2025, he was arrested following an incident at a park in Cortlandt. He later pleaded guilty to forcible touching and served four months in jail.

He was subsequently involved in another case in Peekskill.

According to authorities, the November 2025 incident involved an attempt to remove a license plate and registration from a parked vehicle. McCain later pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment and petit larceny.

In March 2026, he was sentenced to six months in jail. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision also imposed a six-month sentence for a parole violation.

His latest parole revocation means McCain will return to state prison. News 12 reported that he is expected to serve approximately 10 additional months, with a projected release date of May 1.

Continued Opposition to His Release

McCain’s parole has been controversial since the beginning.

Bohovesky’s family, community members and local officials had opposed his release and urged the state to keep him incarcerated.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day has also been a vocal critic of the parole decision. Following McCain’s 2025 arrest, Day renewed his criticism of the decision to release him.

The case has also become part of the broader political debate over New York’s parole policies, with critics arguing that the state has been too lenient toward people convicted of serious crimes.

However, parole decisions are made by the New York State Board of Parole, rather than by a political party or Albany lawmakers as a group.

For Pearl River residents who have remembered Bohovesky’s death for more than 45 years, McCain’s return to prison represents another chapter in one of the community’s most painful and enduring cases.

Bohovesky was 16 when her life was cut short. The latest developments surrounding her killer have once again brought her name and the 1980 murder back into public attention.

Photo Courtesy: Senator Weber’s office

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