SUNY Oneonta police officer indicted on two charges

Jul. 25—An Otsego County grand jury indicted SUNY Oneonta police Lt. Bruce A. Brown for official misconduct and criminal solicitation in January.

The indictment, which The Daily Star received Thursday, July 25, stated that Brown intentionally solicited a false written statement from a subordinate officer.

The statement falsely claimed misconduct on the part of University Police Chief Dirk R. Budd in an attempt to have the chief fired, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges this happened on or about May 19, 2023, in the town of Oneonta.

The grand jury accused Brown of official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, related his alleged unauthorized exercise of his official functions.

The grand jury further accused Brown of the crime of fifth-degree criminal solicitation, a violation, related to his alleged solicitation and request to the subordinate officer to make a false written statement.

According to the SUNY Oneonta website, Brown has been serving on the police force since 2007.

Otsego County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher J. Di Donna said Tuesday, July 23 that Brown is on unpaid leave.

A spokesperson for SUNY Oneonta did not respond by press time when asked if Brown is still on unpaid leave.

A call to the University Police Department to reach Budd was not immediately returned Thursday. Attempts to contact Brown were unsuccessful.

Di Donna said that Brown's arraignment was Jan. 26, and he has yet to plead to anything.

He said the case is in the pre-trial phase. Brown has no future court appearances scheduled.

Di Donna said if the case were to go to trial, it would be sometime in late 2025.

Jillian McCarthy, staff writer, can be reached at jmccarthy@thedailystar.com or 607-441-7259.