Wiretap: Ex-police chief offered to transport drugs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marc Schultz

Former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek leaves Schenectady County Court on Friday morning after his wife, Lisa, pleaded not guilty to charges she was involved in a highly organized drug ring based in the city.

Former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek participated in calls to alleged drug kingpin Kerry Kirkem, offering to go to Long Island to get cocaine in time for his birthday, according to wiretap transcripts obtained exclusively today by The Daily Gazette.

Greg Kaczmarek’s voice is heard in the background as his wife talked to Kerry Kirkem during two phone calls Feb. 18. Both phone calls were made within minutes of each other over the noon hour, using a phone registered to Greg Kaczmarek.

Lisa Kaczmarek, who was arrested Thursday, is heard asking Kirkem for what authorities say was cocaine, though the words are not used.

Wiretap transcripts

To read transcripts of recorded calls involving an alleged Schenectady drug ring, click here.

Kirkem had a delay in a shipment, and Lisa Kaczmarek was working with a deadline: Greg’s birthday was coming up.

“Greg’s got a birthday Wednesday,” she allegedly told Kirkem, according to the transcript

Then the former chief speaks up from the background: “That’s my birthday present,” he allegedly said.

Kirkem jokes that Greg Kaczmarek should make the trip to Long Island. “Ask him if he, he want to take that trip for me.”

Lisa Kaczmarek is charged with felony conspiracy and faces up to 25 years in state prison if convicted. Her husband has not been charged, though his name is included in an indictment unsealed Thursday.

Greg Kaczmarek served as Schenectady Police Chief from 1996 until retired in 2002. He retired in the wake of one of the department’s worst scandals when four officers were sent to federal prison for mishandling informants and drug evidence.

Gregory Kaczmarek himself has long been followed by rumors of drug use.

The week before he was named chief in 1996, he attempted to dispel the whispers by holding a news conference, flatly denying them.

Then-mayor Al Jurczynski then challenged anyone with proof of such a claim to come forward. No one credible did, Jurczynski said then.

Albany attorney Kevin Luibrand is representing the couple. He appeared in Schenectady County Court Friday morning, getting Lisa Kaczmarek a $10,000 bail. She was released about 2:30 p.m. today.

Asked later about the transcripts, Luibrand again declined to comment.

“As a criminal case it belongs in court and that’s where we’ll address anything,” he said.

Lisa Kaczmarek, Kirkem and the former chief in the background go on in tapes to talk about a trip to Long Island, a trip that apparently never happened.

The three, however, allegedly met two days later, the indictment reads, “to discuss the details surrounding the police seizing cocaine and other narcotics from the drug organization earlier in the day, and how to proceed with their drug organization in view of that police seizure.”

That alleged meeting is apparently not referenced in the transcripts.

In the Feb. 18 conversation, Kirkem did not like the idea of Greg Kaczmarek getting the items. He would only use his regular driver. Besides, it would be dangerous.

“You have to,” Kirkem said, “no listen, it would be dangerous for him”

Lisa Kaczmarek laughed. “Greg goes ‘I’ll show him the badge’”

Kirkem replied “oh my God” as Lisa Kaczmarek continued talking to Greg in the background: “He said it would be dangerous for you.”

Kirkem finally refused the Kaczmarek’s alleged offers for help, instead telling them they had to wait.

Lisa Kaczmarek then asked for backup.

“If that don’t come thru, see if you can find something else for Greg’s birthday cause you’re my only connect,” she allegedly said.

Kirkem replied, “alright.”