Suspended Rockland Corrections Officer Hit with Weapons Charges

A suspended Rockland County Corrections Officer has been arrested on illegal weapons possession charges, according to Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco.

Daniel Whittaker, 33, was arrested by Sheriff's detectives at his home in Orangeburg as a result of a Jan. 9 search of his home. Falco said he is accused of possessing brass knuckles, a switchblade knife and a stun gun.

Whittaker was processed at Sheriff's Headquarters in New City on three counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. He was arraigned in Rockland County Court in New City and released pending a Feb. 26 hearing.

The Rockland County REACT Team executed a search warrant at his home and the Rockland County Bomb Squad was brought in to determine if it was safe for police to open a safe in the apartment.

Rifles and other items were taken into custody. Whittaker was interviewed and released at that time.

Whittaker has been suspended for approximately two years due to a personnel matter and ongoing disciplinary investigation. In January, a jury in Orangetown Town Court found Whittaker not guilty of misdemeanor drug possession charges and a charge of unlawfully fleeing a police officer in connection with a April 9, 2010 incident on Route 303, where he was stopped by a state trooper.

The Rockland County Sheriff's Department oversees the operation of the Rockland County Correctional Facility, which is located next door to Sheriff's Headquarters at 55 New Hempstead Road, New City.