ALBANY, NY – On the heels of disturbing revelations related to cost overruns and the possible circumvention of State Civil Service Law that happened during his controversial tenure as Mayor of Brewster, voters are learning more troubling news about John Degnan. 

It was made public today that Mayor Degnan had been accused of being personally involved in the attempted silencing of a whistleblower, Police Officer Michael Pisano of the Brewster Police Department.

According to court documents, in 2007 Pisano shared with Degnan several concerns he had regarding the lack of formal qualifications of Brewster Police Chief Alex Mancone and the operations of the Brewster police force.  Pisano informed Degnan that Mancone had not taken a competitive civil service exam and the legitimacy of his tenure as police chief was in question, as was his ordering subordinate police officers to repeatedly falsify their time records.  

As specified in a formal complaint filed in federal court, Degnan reported Pisano’s allegations to Mancone and, together, they attempted to silence Pisano by terminating his employment just one month after his having raised the concerns.  After Pisano filed for unemployment and it became apparent the dispute would be brought before an employment hearing, Degnan and Mancone relented, rehiring Pisano in June of 2007.

Approximately one month after his rehiring, Pisano was promoted to detective with a commensurate salary increase.  However, four days later, Pisano was summarily dismissed by Degnan and Mancone due to alleged “budgetary constraints.”  Curiously, the constraints did not prevent subsequent police hires authorized by Mancone and Degnan.

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