NYPD Officer commits suicide, 4th this year; Two women struck by LIRR train & other top news headlines for Wesneday, February 15, 2012

LongIsland.com

NYPD Officer Becomes Fourth Officer to Commit Suicide This Year; Two Woman Killed by LI Train; Woodbury Co-op Sued Over Banning Ailing Woman's Dog; LIRR Smoking Ban Enforcement Begins Today;

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NYPD Officer Becomes Fourth Officer to Commit Suicide This Year

A 14-year NYPD veteran died Monday evening after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Matthew Schindler, 39, finished his shift in Queens and shot himself under the chin after pulling over to the side of Jericho Turnpike around 4:30pm. Schindler, a married father of three, had texted his sergeant minutes before to say his goodbyes. Schindler is the fourth NYPD officer to commit suicide in less than a month. Just eight days ago, Officer Brian Saar shot himself in his Suffolk County home after having an argument with his wife at a party. Saar was a 20 year police veteran and father to 5-year-old twins. Last month, 28-year-old officer Terrence Dean killed himself while on-duty after he received a worried phone call from his fiancée who reportedly had just warned Dean’s precinct about the depression he was struggling with. Dean shot himself in the head while responding to the scene of a car burglary in Queens with his partner.  Four days prior, on January 15, 23-year-old Patrick Werner shot himself in his parents’ home in Westchester County after getting into a car accident. Counseling for troubled police officers is available through POPPA - Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance. POPPA provides confidential help for officers and their families by preventing and reducing psychological issues, marital problems, and substance abuse, among other services.

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Two Woman Killed by LI Train

A half mile west of the Copiague train station two young women were struck and killed by a train traveling eastbound. Authorities did not immediately know why the two women were on the tracks. The train that hit the women around 6:30pm on Tuesday was not carrying any passengers. The deaths are under investigation by the Transportation Authority police.

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Woodbury Co-op Sued over Banning Ailing Woman’s Dog

A suit has been filed against a Woodbury Co-op, citing the violation of the Fair Housing Act. Officials say Woodbury Gardens Redevelopment discriminated against a resident when it barred her from keeping a pet miniature schnauzer in her apartment. A complaint says that the company should have granted her request to keep the dog as the family of Sandra Biegal provided medical documentation that Biegel needed the animal to cope with her disabilities. Biegel died in 2007, just one month after getting rid of the dog, at age 74. She suffered from respiratory problems, depression, anxiety, cirrhosis, diabetes and decreased vision and hearing.

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LIRR Smoking Ban Enforcement Begins Today

As of today, MTA Police will be enforcing the new ban on smoking at Long Island Rail Road stations. The law took effect in November and MTA police have been issuing warnings to travels since but now they say the grace period is up. Smokers are banned from lighting up on platforms, in outdoor ticketing and boarding areas or terminals and stations. Violators will face ejection from LIRR property, $50 fines, up to 30 days in jail or both.  The ban includes Metro-North stations.

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