Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo has obtained an order to shut down the Yonkers Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).  The organizations had giving Peace Officer status over a dozen individuals, allowing them to carry guns without providing any service to the community. 

“The individuals behind the Yonkers SPCA took advantage of a nationally renowned non-profit to masquerade as a law enforcement entity with no responsibilities or oversight,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Since this organization provides no service to the community, we have shut it down.”

Yonkers SPCA, headquartered at 976 McLean Avenue in Yonkers, was incorporated in 1912 but has not conducted any legitimate programmatic operations in decades. The SPCA of Westchester had expanded its territory to include Yonkers and has provided and continues to provide prevention of cruelty to animal services to the city.  In 2007, despite the fact that the SPCA of  Westchester was handling animal cruelty cases in Yonkers, Sean Collins, 43, of Millerton, resurrected the long-dormant Yonkers SPCA and established a new Board of Directors without the proper authority. The newly reconstituted Yonkers SPCA conducted no law enforcement activities.

Nevertheless, the organization conferred peace officer status to at least 16 members over the past three years, essentially allowing them to carry guns while not doing any activities relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals. By comparison, the SPCA of Westchester conducts all such enforcement across the county and has only two peace officers.

In fact, Yonkers SPCA members had proven themselves to be dangerous.  One member was reprimanded in early 2009 for brandishing his firearm in a reckless manner while under the influence of alcohol.   A month later, after tensions increased within the group, at least two board members brought their guns to a Board meeting.

In July 2009, the AG intervened and obtained a temporary restraining order barring the Yonkers SPCA from appointing or reappointing peace officer status for any members. The court has now

issued an order dissolving the Yonkers SPCA.

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