Chief Admits To Filing Fake Police Training Documents

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Four upstate New York police officials accused of submitting false police training documents have pleaded guilty.

The Times Union reports village of Galway Police Chief Leslie Klein, Sgt. Mark LaViolette, Sgt. David Goodwin and former Glenville Officer Mark Kirker pleaded guilty this week in Albany to criminal solicitation charges. Klein, LaViolette and Goodwin have all agreed to resign. Kirker has agreed to give up his police training instructor certification.

Prosecutors say Klein and the other defendants lied about officers who hadn't completely mandatory training courses. Kirker admitted that he hadn't taught all of the field training courses. The false forms were filed with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Galway police are also accused of destroying evidence and illegally voiding traffic tickets. No charges have been filed.

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Information from: Times Union, http://www.timesunion.com