Albany Crime Solvers Initiative

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings at the podium with the Bailey family behind him and Chief Tuffey looking on.

One of my Thursday assignments was to cover the announcement of the establishment of a Crime Solvers program in the City of Albany.

Crime Solvers TIPLINE 518.462.6396

Mayor Jerry Jennings was joined by Albany Police and fire Foundation Chairman Kevin O'Connor and the parents of slain UAlbany student Richard Bailey, who was shot in the head late last year while walking to his apartment from a friend's house.

The presser also served as an unoffical "welcome back" for Police Chief James Tuffey, who took what he called a "vacation" after the Times Union newspaper questioned his police certification credentials, which resulted in a state Division of Criminal Justice Services determined that Tuffey is not a certified police officer.

CBS6 News Chief Ken Screven looks on as cameramen scramble to video posters announcing the new Crime Solvers program.

Mike Goodwin offers his take on the Tuffey return in a "Crime Confidential" blog posting.

Here's another story on the "vacation" angle from my buddy Steve Flamisch!