Saugerties Police Chief Joe Sinagra has been placed on indefinite administrative leave pending an investigation.

According to the Saugerties deputy supervisor, the Town Board put Sinagra on leave due to a recent report by Attorney General Letitia James on Dion Johnson, a Saugerties police officer.

Johnson was accused of sexually assaulting several women, but an internal investigation alleges two of the three claims were unsubstantiated. However, a separate investigation by the attorney general's office claims all three accusations are likely true and called on the department to fire Johnson.

Former Chief Lou Barbaria will serve in the interim.

This development comes less than two weeks after Sinagra was sworn in as president of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police.