| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
CORRECTION OFFICER ARRESTED
DECEMBER 6, 2007
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports the arrest of Columbia County Correction Officer Christine C. Pitcher, 27 years
old of Hudson, NY, after an internal investigation by jail commanders and Sheriff’s Office internal affairs and public
corruption Senior Investigator William Foster. He said that Pitcher has worked at the Sheriff’s Office on and off
since 2005 and was hired as a full time Correction Officer from the county civil service list in April of 2007.
Sheriff Harrison said that Pitcher engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 39 year old male inmate not
known to her other than through her position at the jail, which ultimately led to her falsifying jail logs. He said that
after consulting with the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, she was arrested on December 5, 2007 @ 3:
45PM by Sr/Inv William Foster and Deputy Sheriff Wendy Moon at the Public Safety Facility and charged with
Falsifying Business Records 2nd Degree (A-Misdemeanor) and Official Misconduct (A-Misdemeanor). She was
arraigned by Greenport Justice, the Hon. Judge Robert Brenzel and remanded to the Columbia County jail in lieu
of $1,000 Cash/$2,000 Bail Bond as recommended by the District Attorney’s Office. The inmate involved is not
currently at the jail.
Also under investigation is the extent of a physical relationship between the two which may have involved sexual
touching, however the investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
Sheriff Harrison said that Pitcher’s employment was terminated at the time of arrest. He said that he is
disappointed that this occurred and points out that the Correction Officers who work in the jail are professional
hardworking people who have an important and difficult job in our society. They are people who take their careers
and oath to uphold the laws of New York State and Columbia County, seriously. He does not want the criminal
actions of one person to reflect on the other 48 full time and 17 part time county Correction Officers who are
dedicated to their positions.
The Sheriff said that inappropriate and unlawful officer-inmate relationships in state and county correctional
facilities are a problem statewide since facilities have been required by courts to institute cross gender
supervision, meaning male Correction Officers overseeing female inmates and visa-versa. He said that Correction
Officers have received training in these areas and that restructuring duties and updating protocols have helped
somewhat.
Irregardless he said, dedication, professionalism and integrity are personal characteristics and the person who
chooses to violate them must be held accountable, especially when laws are broken.
DECEMBER 6, 2007
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports the arrest of Columbia County Correction Officer Christine C. Pitcher, 27 years
old of Hudson, NY, after an internal investigation by jail commanders and Sheriff’s Office internal affairs and public
corruption Senior Investigator William Foster. He said that Pitcher has worked at the Sheriff’s Office on and off
since 2005 and was hired as a full time Correction Officer from the county civil service list in April of 2007.
Sheriff Harrison said that Pitcher engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 39 year old male inmate not
known to her other than through her position at the jail, which ultimately led to her falsifying jail logs. He said that
after consulting with the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, she was arrested on December 5, 2007 @ 3:
45PM by Sr/Inv William Foster and Deputy Sheriff Wendy Moon at the Public Safety Facility and charged with
Falsifying Business Records 2nd Degree (A-Misdemeanor) and Official Misconduct (A-Misdemeanor). She was
arraigned by Greenport Justice, the Hon. Judge Robert Brenzel and remanded to the Columbia County jail in lieu
of $1,000 Cash/$2,000 Bail Bond as recommended by the District Attorney’s Office. The inmate involved is not
currently at the jail.
Also under investigation is the extent of a physical relationship between the two which may have involved sexual
touching, however the investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
Sheriff Harrison said that Pitcher’s employment was terminated at the time of arrest. He said that he is
disappointed that this occurred and points out that the Correction Officers who work in the jail are professional
hardworking people who have an important and difficult job in our society. They are people who take their careers
and oath to uphold the laws of New York State and Columbia County, seriously. He does not want the criminal
actions of one person to reflect on the other 48 full time and 17 part time county Correction Officers who are
dedicated to their positions.
The Sheriff said that inappropriate and unlawful officer-inmate relationships in state and county correctional
facilities are a problem statewide since facilities have been required by courts to institute cross gender
supervision, meaning male Correction Officers overseeing female inmates and visa-versa. He said that Correction
Officers have received training in these areas and that restructuring duties and updating protocols have helped
somewhat.
Irregardless he said, dedication, professionalism and integrity are personal characteristics and the person who
chooses to violate them must be held accountable, especially when laws are broken.