Inside the World of Saratoga’s Private Investigators
Local private investigator Jeremiah Brooks poses next to two of his company’s vehicles. Photo provided by Alivia Waldron.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Forget what you’ve seen on “CSI” or in Humphrey Bogart movies; in today’s world, private investigators bear little resemblance to their Hollywood caricatures.
When a potential client walks into Brooks Investigations Group’s office in Saratoga Springs, there are some fanciful notions that might need to be dispelled.
“There’s no magical prescription drug where we can literally find everything about someone,” said Jeremiah Brooks, Chief of Investigations. “The FBI has a background check system that provides 5% of the information mine does, and that’s the FBI.”
Brooks’ background investigations can range from someone looking to learn more about their future significant other to business owners who suspect they’re being swindled. These cases are only one of many tasks that private investigators can do. Brooks Investigations Group’s top cases usually fall under the categories of criminal defense or family court. But there is one case category that seems to be popular in the Saratoga area: evictions.
“Sometimes that just involves us serving paperwork, and other times we do 24-hour inspections,” Brooks said. “24-hour inspections are designed, number one, to make sure that the current resident or squatter is not damaging the property, but also to let them know that my clients are taking this very seriously, they’re acting within the law and they’re not going to make it comfortable for you to sit here and squeeze them dry.”
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Brooks Investigations Group’s central office is in Plattsburgh, and the company added its second brick-and-mortar location in Saratoga Springs last year. But Brooks also has investigators working out of “satellite offices” in Albany, Elmira, and Massena. These investigators don’t have physical offices per se, but they each command a small team of people, many of whom are ex-law enforcement. Brooks said that “at least” 90% of his staff have some law enforcement background.
“When I sit down with somebody that I’m about to hire, I want them to share my vision,” Brooks said. “I want them to have that same vision that we don’t go into a case with blinders on, which occurs in many police investigations. They’ll actually formulate conclusions well before the facts have been collected, and that’s one thing that we try to do the opposite. We stay objective. We stay open-minded. We’re never biased. We use our training to help us, but we also have an open mind. My team is very much like that, and that’s why we’re successful with what we do.”
Brooks’ philosophy of staying open-minded has led to his company taking on a number of criminal defense cases. Public defenders often contact private investigators to assist with their cases, and this, Brooks said, is where his company truly shines.
“The police have investigators, the district attorney has the police; somebody that’s accused has their defense attorney and that’s it,” Brooks said. “It’s not really set up to be fair.”
Brooks Investigations Group conducts its own investigations independently of the police, and sometimes its findings contradict the official record, or even reveal alleged corruption. “We’re changing the landscape on criminal defense,” Brooks said.
Though radically different from how the media often portrays them, private investigators are undoubtedly having an influence across the country, and right here in Saratoga Springs.
Brooks Investigations’ Saratoga office is located at 120 West Avenue, in suite 212.
Health Professionals Advocate for Wilton Fluoridation; Dorothy Nolan Elementary Impacted
WILTON — A group of health professionals and concerned citizens are advocating for water fluoridation in the Town of Wilton, which supplies water to Dorothy Nolan Elementary in the Saratoga Springs City School District.
The group argues that the Wilton Water and Sewer Authority’s (WWSA) decision not to fluoridate costs families hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased dental costs, due to fluoride’s ability to reduce tooth decay in children. Dorothy Nolan’s fluoridation status currently impacts around 700 students.
“While 75% of American public water systems have adopted fluoridation, Wilton remains an outlier,” Peter J. Lindner, Ph.D, a member of the group and Gansevoort resident, told Saratoga TODAY. “Since its inception in 1945, [community water fluoridation] has been acknowledged for its significant health benefits and cost-effectiveness.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Dental Association, and World Health Organization have all advocated for water fluoridation. In February, the Albany Common Council voted unanimously to add fluoride to the city’s water supply.
Other group members encouraging Wilton’s fluoridation include Dr. Claudia Farrell of Community Care Pediatrics, Dr. Wayne Harrison of Harrison Family Dental, former Times Union staff writer Leigh Hornbeck Trombley, and Dr. Bill Maas, a former Dental Director of the CDC.
“The Wilton Water and Sewer Authority (WWSA) oversees our water supply,” Lindner said. “Although it purchases fluoridated water from Saratoga Springs, this supply is limited to a section of the Wilton Mall and does not extend to the broader community, including schools like Dorothy Nolan Elementary.”
Because some water in Wilton is fluoridated via Saratoga Springs, Lindner said this has resulted in the CDC and New York State Department of Health wrongly deeming Wilton a fluoridated community.
In a statement to Saratoga TODAY, the WWSA explained its position on fluoridation. The WWSA said it does not contend the benefits of fluoride, but believes that it should not be responsible for administering fluoride to its customers.
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“The WWSA strongly believes that our customers and their health care providers should have the right to make their own decisions on fluoride consumption,” the statement said. “Many of the WWSA water customers do not want fluoride added to the water supply.”
The WWSA noted that the request before the board asks for fluoride to be added to the entire water supply, impacting all residents in addition to students at Dorothy Nolan Elementary.
A 2013 report prepared by C.T. Male Associates for the WWSA estimated that the capital cost of fluoridation in Wilton would be $126,000, with an annual operation and maintenance cost of $13,300. Those costs have likely increased in the nearly 11 years since the report was written. The WWSA said it has no budgetary or logistical concerns over fluoridation.
The WWSA board voted unanimously on March 19 not to fluoridate the town’s water. But due to a minor procedural error, that vote was considered informal. The board will vote again on fluoridation during a public meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 21.
Schuylerville Baseball Victorious in Season Opener, Aim for Competitive Season
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville Black Horses varsity baseball team won its first game of the season on Monday at Averill Park, 7 to 2. The victory could be a sign of what’s to come: a competitive, veteran team fighting for a successful postseason appearance.
“[Averill Park] has been a really strong team the last few years, and usually we go down there and kind of get introduced to what really solid ball clubs look like,” said Schuylerville Head Coach Darrin Renner.
The Black Horses’ veteran-led team includes senior Luke Sherman, a multi-sport athlete who broke his school’s all-time boys’ basketball scoring record earlier this year. “He’s a guy that we really lean on to get things done offensively,” Renner said.
Coach Renner also named senior Griffin Brophy (a former third baseman now playing shortstop), senior lefty pitcher Brenden Steinberg, junior Alex Renner (catcher), senior Trevor French (pitcher/outfielder), and senior Josh Merrill (infielder) as part of his core group of returning players.
Among newcomers, Renner spotlighted Jackson Dunbar, a freshman second baseman whose first varsity at-bat against Averill Park was a double that fell right into an outfield gap and drove in the team’s first run. Renner said he was “very excited about the possibilities of [Dunbar] going forward.”
On the mound, sophomore pitcher Jack Boden closed out the last two innings against Averill. “Bowden’s got really good stuff,” Renner said. “We’re excited to see how he grows and where he ends up in the rotation as we go forward.”
Renner said he runs a goal-oriented program, and one of his team’s primary objectives this year is to go far enough in the postseason to play at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, which is the home of the Tri-City ValleyCats minor league baseball team.
“Every kid wants to play at Joe Bruno,” Renner said. “To play out on that field I think is for most kids kind of like a dream come true.”
Schuylerville Black Horses Varsity Baseball 2024 Roster:
Griffin Brophy – Senior INF, P #9
Luke Sherman – Senior P, OF, INF #13
Brenden Steinberg – Senior P, 1B, OF #1
Josh Merrill – Senior 3b, DH #24
Boston Reilly – Senior OF, 1B, 2B #11
Trevor French – Senior P, OF #4
Alex Renner – Junior C, OF, 2B #3
Lucas Reilly – Junior P, 2B, OF #14
Jameson Brownell – Junior 1B, 3B, OF #18
Aidan Wilber – Junior OF, INF, C #7
Matthew Waldinger – Junior OF #2
Ben Van Veghten – Sophomore 1B, OF #8
Jack Boden – Sophomore P, OF, 3B #6
Jackson Dunbar – Freshman 2B, OF, SS, P #10
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Seasonal Paid Parking Proposal: Public Hearing and Subsequent Vote Expected Tuesday April 2
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A summerlong paid parking plan, scaled back from the initial “tourism parking program” first floated late last year, will be presented during a 60-minute Public Hearing at City Hall this week.
The Public Hearing will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, and a vote regarding the proposal is anticipated to be held during a meeting of the City Council later that same evening.
The initial proposal pointed to converting more than 1,300 on-street and nearly 800 garage parking spaces into either “permit” or “paid” spots for a five-month run that was to start this May.
Following a presentation in February to more than 50 people, most of whom were downtown business owners and managers, the plan’s title, its time period in effect, and the breadth of the proposal’s reach were rolled back in what the city reported as “streamlined adjustments in response to great stakeholder feedback.” Plans for on-street paid parking has also been altogether eliminated, with city streets continuing to offer free parking for both residents and visitors.
The new seasonal parking plan is proposed to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day and include both free permit and paid parking in city-owned garages and surface lots. Visitors can pay $2 an hour to park in the garages and surface lots.
“As a government we must identify new revenue streams to offset the increased costs of city services, downtown investment, and the maintenance necessary to support our nationally celebrated downtown,” said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub. “This streamlined parking approach will be less disruptive to implement and will allow for a measured approach of paid parking downtown.”
Additional amenities of the program include directional signage to assist visitors toward available parking in the garages and lots where they will have the option to pay via their mobile device or a nearby pay station.
Permits
Residents and any downtown business employers can obtain free parking permits to park in the garages and surface lots for themselves or their employees. Registration will be provided with proof of residency via an online portal or with assistance from employees at City Hall. The permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. Ticket forgiveness will be provided to residents and employees if they park in a lot and were eligible for a permit but did not have one at the time of the violation.
Revenue and Expenses
Forecasting the utilization of spaces at a conservative 33% (a figure well-below what was observed in studies), the anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 is expected to be approximately $1.6 million.
Expenses are estimated at about $450,000, which includes the costs associated with program administration, equipment for the installation of paystations and enforcement, contract attendants to work at the garages, and additional parking enforcement.
The proposal envisions re-investment of revenue generated into Saratoga Springs’ downtown.
This would include a dedicated marketing professional for the Downtown Business Association, capital reserves for the parking structures and downtown improvements, and funds allocated for the recreation department. The proposed re-investment will be $225,000 for downtown and $40,000 for recreation in year one and will be annual.
Following the establishment of the seasonal program, a plan allowing school taxpayers in the Saratoga Springs City School District to park at a reduced rate permit may be optioned.
“There have been a few business owners that expressed fair concerns about customers in surrounding towns facing a barrier due to parking fees. Once the program is set up, we’ll work toward creating a reduced rate permit for school district taxpayers,” Golub said.
Malta Growing – Businesses, Homes, GlobalFoundries
MALTA — After more than $2 billion in federal and state investments were awarded to GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Malta, the town is continuing to see significant growth, including the addition of new businesses and residential developments.
Most of these recent changes, said Town Supervisor Cynthia Young, are consistent with the town’s stated mission to create an active downtown area filled with amenities. “When I first moved to Malta almost 40 years ago, there were no amenities,” Young said. “I had to leave Malta to get my hair cut, to get my dog groomed, to buy my groceries; and now all of those things are things that I can do here in Malta.”
The funds sent to GlobalFoundries will be used by the company to both expand its existing facility and build a new microchip fabrication plant. The projects are expected to create more than 10,000 new jobs. Young said that she hoped GlobalFoundries’ expansion would “spur some other businesses to come into the tech park.”
GlobalFoundries isn’t the only tech-focused business making waves in town. Last week, the Albany Business Review reported that Active Solar Development will build its nearly 13,000-square-foot, $3 million headquarters next to the Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta.
As new and expanded businesses bring more jobs to the area, developers are working on increasing the housing supply. Construction is already underway for DeGraff-Bloom Custom Builders’ 25-home development on Dunning St downtown. Young said that new homes were also being built in the northern part of town near Route 9, and that additional senior housing was being planned.
“I have been somewhat concerned about the escalating cost of housing in Malta,” Young said. “I’m hoping we can explore some opportunities to offer more modestly priced housing, but so far there’s nothing on the table for that.”
Young also said the town was working to protect some of its rural areas with conservation easements, in an effort to keep quality of life “balanced.”
As Malta continues to grow, Young encourages residents to contact her with any questions or concerns via phone 518-899-3434, or email: cyoung@malta-town.org.
GlobalFoundries Worker Attends State Of The Union
WASHINGTON D.C. — Kimberly Spica, an Equipment Engineering Technician at GlobalFoundries in Malta, attended President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address last week as a guest of New York Senator Chuck Schumer.
“I feel like this is an amazing opportunity to be able to come here to Washington D.C. and have Senator Schumer invite me,” Spica said in a video posted to Schumer’s X account. “It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and it feels really amazing to be a GlobalFoundries representative and to be here.”
“I am proud to have Kim at my side for President Biden’s State of the Union to show how my CHIPS & Science Law is trailblazing a new path for Upstate New Yorkers,” said Senator Schumer in a statement.
Spica, a Wilton resident, is a product of the GlobalFoundries apprenticeship program. “As an apprentice, I worked full-time, earned a good salary, had on-the-job training; plus [GlobalFoundries] paid for my coursework at Hudson Valley Community College,” Spica said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the company and would encourage others considering a career change, or at the start of their careers, to take a serious look at GF and the semiconductor industry.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it would send $1.5 billion in funds to GlobalFoundries. The investment is part of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in August of 2022. GlobalFoundries will use the funds to expand its existing facility and build a new microchip fabrication plant in Malta. In support of these projects, Governor Kathy Hochul also announced $575 million in direct funding for New York State Green CHIPS. Additional $15 million and $30 million investments are planned for workforce development activities, as well as infrastructure upgrades and energy initiatives, respectively. All told, the investments are expected to create more than 10,000 jobs.
“When I wrote my CHIPS & Science Law, I had Upstate NY as my ‘North Star,’ to build the future of America’s industry here in the Capital Region,” Senator Schumer said in a statement. “Kim represents the best of that vision.”
“Kim is a valued team member and her personal story is a testament to the importance and impact of GF’s apprenticeship program,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, President and CEO of GlobalFoundries. “We are incredibly proud of Kim, and we thank Senator Schumer for inviting her to attend the State of the Union Address to represent [GlobalFoundries], our team in New York, and the entire semiconductor industry.”
Action! New Cinema Opens In Wilton
WILTON — Once again as it had once before, the fragrance of hot buttered popcorn roams the long halls of the Wilton Mall, welcoming all who enter with a familiar and comforting scent.
Four years after hosting what was thought to be its final screening, a multi-theater cinema has opened once again at Wilton Mall. The cinema features eight screens, including one large-format auditorium. All the auditoriums feature luxury leather rocking chairs, wall-to-wall screens, and Dolby Digital surround sound.
It is operated by Scene One Entertainment. Joe Masher is its owner and CEO. For Masher, formerly of Bow Tie Management, It is a return once again to a place he was charged with operating once before – this time in the role of entrepreneur instead of employee.
“It first opened on my birthday in 2013, so this one holds a special meaning for me,” Masher said, at a gathering staged March 13 to celebrate the cinema’s opening, in front of an audience that included local business executives, regional political dignitaries and members of the media.
Sen. James Tedisco recalled his own brush with the cinema world as a young man, working in the wardrobe department during the filming of “The Way We Were.” The film, starring Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, was filmed in part in Ballston Spa and Schenectady in 1972. “I got fifty bucks a day,” Tedisco quipped.
The Wilton movie theater had originally opened in October 2013 by Bow Tie Cinemas and closed during the early on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A return of movies in a mall might seem a challenging proposition of entertainment days-gone-by, but Masher – who also owns a cinema in Schenectady, said he believes in movie-going as a traditionally out-of-home American cultural experience. “And that’s not going to change,” he said, flanked by a cinema lobby with walls draped in the images of posterboard heroes – Ryan Gosling, Amy Winehouse, Emily Blunt, among them, collaborating with a visual variety depicting twisters, apes, ancient warriors, and next-generation robots.
“I just came back from a week in Los Angeles where I was part of a coalition that met all of the heads of distribution from various studios, and we were assured the film calendar is packing-in for the rest of the year and that we would have exclusive product that would be as “In Theaters Only,” said Masher, who grew up in Troy, worked several decades in the cinema theater industry in a variety of locations on the east coast. Now, he says, he has returned home to the region and has brought some members of “my old theater team” along with him.
“The theater is in fantastic shape and the mall has maintained it beautifully since its pandemic closure,” Masher said, adding that potential future plans include removing some of the rows in one of the theaters and inserting a stage where comedy shows and Open Mic nights can be held, as well as transforming a portion near the entryway into an authentic beer garden.
“Scene One Cinemas fulfills one of the most requested uses from our guests and brings the former theater space in the food court back to life,” said Wilton Mall General Manager Mike Shaffer.
The Wilton Mall has seen some large-scale changes in recent years, and more changes may soon be underway. In 2018 BonTon closed, followed two years later by the closure of Sears. In 2020, Saratoga Hospital set up its medical offices in a repurposed vacant space previously occupied by Sears, and a potential project under discussion seeks to develop nearly 400 apartments alongside the mall.
“I’m very excited with what’s going on at the Wilton Mall, particularly with the potential of the residential units coming in,” Masher said. The plan for that potential development continues to move through the town’s approval process. Developers will next stage a public appearance before the Wilton Town Board on April 4.
The cinema screens movies every day.
City Police Responded to More than 27,000 Calls, Made 850 Arrests in 2023; Drone Program Goal for ‘24
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In 2023, members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to 27,643 calls for all types of service – approximately 1,500 more calls than in 2022 – and generated nearly 3,800 cases that resulted in just over 850 arrests.
The Saratoga Springs Fire Department meanwhile responded to 6,990 calls for service in 2023, representing a 9.2% increase compared to the previous year.
The Saratoga Springs Public Safety Department on March 8 released its annual report for 2023. The 74-page report was submitted March 5 by newly elected Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll, and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Charleson.
In 2023, James Montagnino served as commissioner of public safety, and Jason Tetu as deputy commissioner. The police department concluded the calendar year with 80 sworn personnel, 51 of whom are currently patrol officers, according to the report.
Overall, the Public Safety Department includes a full-time Administrative Office Staff, a Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement Division, Central Dispatch, Traffic Maintenance, Animal Control Officers and a Health Officer. There are approximately 204 full-time employees. An additional 14 part-time employees work as school crossing guards, vehicle traffic controllers, part-time traffic control maintenance and summer laborers at the traffic garage.
Police Department
The Saratoga Springs Police Department was created by an act of the State Legislature in 1887, when a staff of 8 worked out of a station that was formed as an annex to town hall. The current department resides in the same location and has expanded into additional portions of the building. Tyler McIntosh has served as chief of police since June 2023.
Among the department’s stated goals in 2024 is the development and implementation of a department Drone Program, which will enhance investigations and crowd-management capabilities.
Additional goals include: creating a Traffic Safety Unit, a Citizen Police Academy, and developing and implementing a comprehensive Wellness Program to improve members’ mental and physical health.
The department also reported it has acquired Flock License Plate Readers, which provides AI and machine-learning powered technology to reveal detailed information that may not have otherwise be available, according to the company. The LPR’s will be set in fixed locations around the city.
“This technological resource will provide invaluable data and leads for investigations that pertain to all sorts of criminal activity,” according to the report. “The ability to track, trace and analyze other types of evidence will be instrumental to the future of crime-solving.”
Calls For Service
In 2023, members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to 27,643 calls for service. The most frequent call type was the traffic stops, which accounted for about 11% of all calls.
Officers generated 3,794 cases that resulted in 852 arrests. Comparatively, in 2022, the police department responded to 26,186 calls for service, and officers generated 3,933 cases that resulted in 821 arrests.
A consistent primary density for calls for service were in the area of Broadway between Caroline Street & Lake Ave. Secondary hotspots consistently observed were in the area of Union Street between Adelphi St. & Arthur St. as well as Hamilton St. between W Circular St. & Congress St. During the summer months, a consistent density for calls emerged in the area of the Saratoga Racecourse, and at the western portion of Saratoga Spa State Park in correlation with Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Of the 27,643 calls for service handled by members of the SSPD in 2023, 63 resulted in a use of force by SSPD standards. Those 63 resulting instances: Physical Force (40); Firearm Displayed (16)/ Firearm Discharged (0); Taser Displayed (5)/ Taser Deployed (2); Pepper Spray Deployed (0).
In 2023, city police responded to 998 reportable traffic crashes, down from 1,052 compared to the previous year.
Officers conducted 2,976 traffic stops in 2023 and issued 1,754 Uniform Traffic tickets – up from 1,686 tickets in 2022. Of the tickets issued 114 were for Driving While Intoxicated offenses, down from the 132, 135, and 133 DWI tickets issued for DWI offenses in each of the three previous years, respectively.
Reported Offenses
2023 2022
Rape 20 18
Robbery 12 11
Aggravated Assault 36 68
Burglary 41 75
Larceny 454 439
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 10
Kidnappings 5 6
Sex Offenses 18 22
Assault 388 381
Criminal Mischief 189 208
Drug Possession 73 82 Drug Sale 25 22
*Saratoga Springs Police Department – 2023 summary crime data submitted to DCJS. Report run Feb. 12, 2024.
Fire Department
The Saratoga Springs Fire Department has 84 full-time career fire officers and firefighters.
In 2023, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department responded to 6,990 calls for service. This represents a 9.2% increase from 2022. Emergency Medical Responses accounted for 4,911 of the responses. Alarm Activations – 644, Good Intent and other – 697, Hazardous Conditions – 147, Service Calls – 198, and Fires – 93, were some of the others. The 93 responses to fire were the highest number in any one year compared to each of the past five years.
The average response times, from dispatch to arrival in 2023, were 4:24 (downtown and eastside), 5:12 (westside), and 6:28 (I-87 East).
The year also saw the Saratoga Springs Fire Dept. hosting its first Recruit Firefighter Training Academy, in a joint effort with the cooperation of the Wilton VFD, Glens Falls FD and the Albany Airport FD. The Academy began in late March and concluded in mid-July with the graduation of 15 firefighters.
Fire Prevention and Inspection/Code Enforcement – In 2023, there were 1,963 total inspections, with 811 total violations.
Ambulance Report – in 2023, there were 5,398 emergency medical calls, and 3,900 transports. The fire department EMS revenues increased in 2023 as a result of placing a second ambulance in service on a daily basis. That ambulances transport revenue in 2023 was just over $2.9 million.
Station Three update: A project decades in-the-making, the report cites an approximate March/April estimated opening of the station based on Henning Road.
Congressional Map Redistricted… Again; Saratoga County Split in Two
SARATOGA COUNTY —A new redistricting of the Congressional Map will split Saratoga County into two voting districts – the 20th and 21st -when residents head to the polls to elect a representative in Congress in November.
Currently, all of Saratoga County is in District 20, and represented by Democrat Paul Tonko.
District 20 will remain in the bottom half of the county and include Saratoga Springs and most points south – Ballston Spa and Clifton Park among them.
The northeastern part of the county – specifically the town of Saratoga where current 21st District Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik makes her home – as well as northern Saratoga County towns, will be part of the 21st District, currently represented by Stefanik.
“I’m deeply disappointed to no longer serve as the Congressional Representative in Rensselaer County and Otsego County, part of Montgomery County, as well as parts of Jefferson County following the 2024 election,” Stefanik said, in a statement. “I look forward to representing the hardworking families, small businesses, farmers, veterans, and seniors in Saratoga County again and those in Oneida County.”
To view an interactive map of Congressional District, go to: newyork.redistrictingandyou.org.