WXXI: Felony Charge Filed Against Greece Police Officer (2009-07-14)

A Greece police officer has been accused of lying during a background check being conducted in the hiring process for now-convicted officer Gary Pignato.

Sergeant Robert Trowbridge has been charged with a felony charge of offering a false instrument for filing.

Pignato was convicted last month of coercing a woman into having sex with him, in return for not being charged with a violation of probation.

Pignato worked for other police departments, including the City of Rochester. During the background check on Pignato, District Attorney Mike Green says Trowbridge knowingly left out information regarding the reasons Pignato was fired by the Rochester Police Department. Green says Trowbridge acted in concert with others. And Green says that Trowbridge stated that he acted under the direction of Chief Merritt Rahn.

Green says the investigation will determine whether charges will be filed against Chief Merritt Rahn.

The charges against Trowbridge are part of an ongoing investigation into the way the Greece Police Department handled incidents involving two of its officers. Chief Rahn, Deputy Chief William Mackin, and Sergeant Brian Ball have been suspended on allegations that they were involved with the shredding of documents at the police department.