JCOPE Fines Former State Director of Emergency Management Services

The state’s former Director of Emergency Management, who sent state workers to remove a tree that had blocked access to his home in Long Island during Superstorm Sandy, has admitted that he violated the state’s Code of Ethics and agreed to pay a fine of $4,000 to settle an ethics case against him.

Steve Kuhr admitted that he violated Public Officers Law § 74(3)(d), which prohibits state employees from using their official position to “secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions” for themselves or others when he diverted workers who were supposed to be clearing trees from public roads that were blocking or delaying emergency response efforts to his home instead.

The matter was investigated by the state’s Office of Inspector General. Read the IG’s statement here, and the settlement agreement here.