Was it a misunderstanding or a misdemeanor? According to East Syracuse Village Police reports, on May 23rd, East Syracuse Village Clerk Patricia Derby allegedly stole a box of flowers from in front of East Syracuse Elementary, but escaped prosecution.
The flowers had been dug up to be returned to the staff members who donated them, but when Derby went past the school while walking her dog, police say she took the box of flowers to her home a block away. The next day, a police officer questioned Derby. At first she denied knowledge of the missing flowers but later pointed to the box. Even though, according to the report the Principal wanted to prosecute at first, she decided to call off the investigation after learning Derby was the alleged culprit.
When contacted by phone Principal Pat Charboneau told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon, "The matter is closed... I'm not going to discuss this..." and hung up.
The police report refers to the incident as "petit larceny" which means the Village Clerk could have been charged with a misdemeanor had the Principal decided to press charges. The alleged theft was caught by surveillance cameras at the school.
The cameras recorded Derby, with her dog on a leash, approaching the box, looking inside and picking it up. Another camera shows her walking away with it.
Derby was not available today but Kenyon talked with her earlier this month by phone. She said, "This has nothing to do with me being Village Clerk. She said "it was a bit of confusion...I don't want to discuss this anymore."
East Syracuse Mayor Danny Liedka says the police informed him of the incident...but feels no action should be taken against the clerk. "The police investigated and the school deemed it was a misunderstanding and they let it go."Liedka said, "she's one of the best employees. She's been honest and ethical from day one." Liedka said
East Syracuse Police Chief Don Morris says when Principal Charboneau decided not to press charges, the police had no choice but to drop the case against Patricia Derby.
