Legislator apologizes in wake of video release
Berky says her behavior after being pulled over was ‘unacceptable’
TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. » Ulster County Legislator Jennifer Schwartz Berky on Friday took responsibility for her behavior during a police traffic stop that was captured on video and apologized to the officer who pulled her over.
She also said she is staying in the race to keep her Legislature seat.
Berky, D-Kingston, said in a written statement that seeing the dash cam video — in which she is shown venting at the officer, begging not to be ticketed, citing her position as a county lawmaker, and naming elected officials she says she’s contacting — was a humbling experience.
“I hope to use it to grow and learn how to better represent the diverse working families who reside in the great city of Kingston,” she wrote.
The video was released by the town of Ulster on Tuesday in response to request filed under the Freedom of Information Law. Berky’s attorney asked the town to withhold the video, saying its
release could prejudice the traffic court case against her and voters in the Nov. 7 election.
“The video released earlier this week of my town of Ulster traffic stop captured a tough moment for me,” Berky added. “Like so many working families, I
too face tough times and stressful situations. As a professional, a public servant and a mother, I know my interaction with Police Officer Gary Short was unacceptable. I want to apologize to Officer Short and thank him for his patience and professionalism with me during a very difficult time.”
The interaction with Short that was captured on video lasted about 25 minutes.
The video has been widely viewed on the Freeman’s website, YouTube and social media sites.
Berky was pulled over in the parking lot of the Aldi supermarket on East Chester Street Bypass on May 24 after Short clocked her driving 43 mph in a 30-mph zone on Ulster Avenue.
The video of the ensuing interaction between Short and Berky shows her angry, upset and crying at times.
At one point, Short asks Berky if she’ll listen to him, and she responds: “Yes, I will listen to you, and you’re not going to let me go even though I’m a county legislator and I always do everything right and I follow the law and I was at the same pace as every other car.”
Berky also tells Short she will call town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley and that Ulster County Sheriff
Paul Van Blarcum already had been contacted.
At the 12-minute mark in the video, a police dispatcher calls to check on the status of the officer, which ultimately leads to Officer Kevin Woltman arriving several minutes later as backup. Woltman is the nephew of Kingston Purchasing Agent Brian Woltman, who is Berky’s opponent in the Nov. 7 election for the county Legislature’s District 7 seat.
Berky said by phone Friday that she was grateful for the support she has received since the video was made public and was focused on “moving forward.”
She also said she will continue to campaign for re-election.
“It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about my constituents. I was asked to run and am going to continue running.”