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Jun 9, 2025

Former Avon, New York, police chief sentenced for stealing federal funds

On June 5, 2025, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released the following statement on the sentencing of former Avon Police Chief Joseph Geer for stealing federal funds: 

“This police chief swore to uphold the law but instead used his position to enrich himself at the expense of his community. He was ordered to pay back what he stole, and he paid full restitution, amounting to over $6,000. My thanks to U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo and the FBI for partnering with my office to hold him accountable.”

Geer pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to theft of funds related to a federal program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case reported that in 2022, the Avon Central School District and the Village of Avon entered into a School Resource Officer Contract [SRO], in which the Village of Avon agreed to provide an off-duty member of the Avon Police Department to provide various services to the school district and who would be paid an hourly wage by the school district. 
Between September 2023 and January 2024, Geer was employed as the Avon Police Chief and as an SRO under the contract. During that time Geer billed the school district for hours during which he did not perform SRO duties under the contract and assigned an on-duty subordinate officer to “cover” his SRO obligations, thus depriving the Village of Avon of a patrolling on-duty police officer.
“During his time as Avon Police Chief, Joseph Geer violated his oath to protect his community,” said Matthew Miraglia, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “Ultimately, Geer chose greed over integrity. The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud and hold public officials accountable.”
Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. Allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money may be reported by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by mailing a complaint to the Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236 or by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.ny.gov/investigations.


NYPPL Publisher Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.

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