County canines get new digsThursday, June 14, 2001 By Sue Weibezahl Dogs who work for the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit have a new home. Friday the Central New York SPCA helped the county dedicate new state-of-the-art kennels. It marks the end of a yearlong effort to raise donations of money, materials and labor to provide the modern, secure quarters for the dogs. The facility replaced six sagging chain-link kennels that had no roofs and no drainage. Now, eight dogs, trained to sniff out suspects, drugs and explosives, will have a comfortable setting complete with heated floors. Lying on a cold floor for extended periods can accelerate arthritis and hip displasia, disorders that frequently strike larger dogs, officials have said. The materials alone would have cost about $75,000 but much of the supplies were donated or offered at substantially reduced rates from a number of area dealers. The kennels are behind the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department heliport on Cessna Road in the town of Camillus. Teen-ager's story didn't ring true City police figured out why a young man apparently gave them a false name and address last week after he reached inside his pants. Investigators had stopped the youth after receiving a 911 phone call about a person carrying a handgun, reports said. They got a description of the man who made the phone call and found Kareem Hill, 17, walking nearby. Hill denied any knowledge of the call, then provided an address that doesn't exist, reports said. Police became suspicious and continued asking the man his name and birth date. Hill claimed he had only been arrested once before - for riding a bicycle on a city sidewalk when he was 12. "At this time, I felt it was probable the male was lying to me as at worst, riding a bicycle on a sidewalk would be a violation, which a 12-year-old could not be arrested or ticketed for," Officer Joseph Szakacs said in his report. A detective in the department's Criminal Investigation Division positively identified Hill and officers learned he had been arrested before on a drug charge. He reportedly confessed then that he was carrying drugs. He reached inside his pants and pulled out six bags filled with cocaine, reports said. He also pulled out $106. The drugs and money were confiscated and Hill, who would not provide his real address, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. City police officers move up in rank Syracuse police held a ceremony June 7 to announce a number of promotions within the department. Sgts. Tim Flynn and Shannon Trice were promoted to lieutenants; Detective Dennis Flynn and Officer John Ives were made sergeants. Promotions are based on the results of civil service tests, which give city officials a list of the top candidates from which to choose candidates for openings at different levels. Sue Weibezahl covers crime and safety for The Syracuse Newspapers in the city of Syracuse. To reach her, call 470-3039 or send e-mail to citynews@syracuse.com. © 2001 The Syracuse Newspapers.
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