GREECE, N.Y. — Former Greece Chief Drew Forsythe pled guilty to a reduced charge of DWAI and to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident for an accident involving his police-issued vehicle on I-390 back on October 20.

Forsythe made an emotional address to the media apologizing for his actions.

He originally said he swerved to avoid a deer and hit a guardrail.

In a news conference in November, Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said that on October 20, Forsythe attended a benefit for fallen New York State Police officers. She says, afterward, Forsythe headed to a bar and stayed there for roughly two hours. Doorley says video evidence collected by investigators shows Forsythe at the bar consuming six alcoholic drinks.

She says Greece police brought Forsythe home, while his vehicle was towed to the department's lot.

He submitted his resignation a few days after the crash.

An arraignment that was set for Greece Town Court last week never took place because three judges recused themselves, citing their personal work with Forsythe. 

Forsythe was chief for less than a year after taking over when former Chief Patrick Phelan retired in 2020.