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Thomas A. Constantine

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largest and most powerful criminal conspiracy in history. That year, the New York State Police uncovered a cocaine processing lab in the rural New York hamlet of Minden. Constantine consolidated this and several other NYSP drug investigations under a single task force. In 1991, a series of raids across New York resulted in arrests and seizures that effectively exposed the entire Cali Cartel operation in New York. It wasn't long thereafter that Constantine, now head of the DEA, headed up the international law enforcement effort that brought about the defeat and dismantling of the cartel.
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groups that control most of the drug trafficking in the United States and throughout the world. In addition, Constantine created DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams to assist state and local law enforcement with investigative and enforcement operations that target the violent drug gangs that have terrorized so many communities in the
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Concerned about the impact of violent crime, Constantine instituted the NYSP Forensic Unit, the first of its kind by a domestic law enforcement agency. This program, based in state police headquarters, provided immediate resource support to local law enforcement authorities confronted with suspicious
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As Administrator of the DEA, Constantine oversaw a work force of over 8,400 special agents and support staff assigned to the agency's 200 domestic offices and 78 foreign offices in over 55 countries. In this capacity, he focused enforcement efforts against the powerful international organized crime
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in December 1986 to be Superintendent of the NYSP. It was the first time in 30 years that a member of that agency had risen through the ranks from Trooper to Superintendent. During his tenure as Superintendent, the 4,800-member agency earned numerous awards, including the Governor's Excelsior Award
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Constantine emphasized the need for increased integrity and ethics standards for all DEA employees. Since 1994, all new DEA special agents have been required to meet the most rigorous entrance standards in U.S. law enforcement. In order to provide more assets to the field operational units, the
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Largely as the result of Constantine's emphasis on drug enforcement and maximized use of tough new federal laws that allowed seizure of criminal assets, his administration of the NYSP brought in seized assets that ultimately financed the construction of a state-of-the-art forensic investigative
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As Superintendent, Constantine instituted vigorous enforcement programs targeting drunk drivers who were responsible for a majority of the fatal accidents in the state. These high-visibility enforcement programs were credited with a major share of the subsequent reduction of highway fatalities.
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In 1995, the Rodriguez brothers, godfathers of Colombia's notorious Cali Cartel, were brought to face American justice. Beginning in 1985, when Constantine was Field Commander of the New York State Police, he oversaw an effort to expose and dismantle what has been acknowledged to have been the
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headquarters decision-making and staffing levels were reduced with an emphasis on decentralized authority. In recognition of these successful efforts, Constantine was awarded the 1997 Penrith Award by the National Executive Institute for outstanding law enforcement leadership.
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into New York. Four regional teams of undercover troopers were established in upstate New York to assist local agencies confront drug dealers. These Community Narcotics Enforcement Teams brought an unprecedented level of law enforcement resources to bear on beleaguered
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as a Public Service Professor. In that capacity, he initiated the creation of a college-level executive development training program for municipal police executives that opened its first session in September 2005.
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under pressure from their supervisors to garner convictions. At least two investigators were criminally convicted and the scandal had a chilling effect throughout the nationwide law enforcement community. After
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As Superintendent, Constantine recognized the need for increased law enforcement resources to combat the growing drug problem. During his tenure, the NYSP Narcotics Unit was increased from 75 to 400 full-time
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In 1987, the NYSP created and instituted the Colonel Henry F. Williams Homicide Seminar, internationally recognized as the finest homicide training event of its kind. This seminar, conducted annually in
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plan. He served in this capacity for three and one half years. In the years since, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has emerged as a respected and trusted law enforcement agency.
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as the best quality agency in state government. In 1994, Constantine himself was selected as the Governor's Law Enforcement Executive of the Year. The
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or unsolved murders and violent assaults. Specially trained state police homicide investigators successfully solved a series of
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to honor individuals who had lost their lives or been seriously injured enforcing the drug laws of the United States.
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area in the 1990s. The five serial killers arrested were responsible for the murder of 52 innocent victims.
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that represented the State Troopers at the time often complained about his heavy-handed management style.
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Constantine was married to the former Ruth Ann Cryan of Buffalo. Constantine died on May 3, 2015, in
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occurred during his tenure. A number of investigators were found to have falsified latent
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Tom Constantine addressing an audience at the DEA 25th anniversary luncheon, 1998
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Nelson Roth issued his report Constantine had already left the State Police.
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Constantine was active in a number of police organizations including the
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had issued a plan for the reconstitution and reorganization of the
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there and was graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Academy.
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of 1998, a commission chaired by former Hong Kong Governor
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Rockefeller College School of Public Affairs and Policy
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Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
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Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
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Working closely with the 506:scandal in New York State Police history 329: 876: 809:Drug Enforcement Administration Museum 740:State University of New York at Albany 718: 456:Constantine was nominated by Governor 432:United States Merchant Marine Academy 597:adding citations to reliable sources 564: 396:adding citations to reliable sources 363: 345:(DEA) from March 1994 to July 1999. 256:adding citations to reliable sources 227: 117: – March 21, 1994 909:Law enforcement in Northern Ireland 736:State University College at Buffalo 13: 894:Politicians from Buffalo, New York 709:Police Service of Northern Ireland 438:, Constantine began his career in 55:April 1994 – July 2, 1999 14: 925: 852: 738:, and a master's degree from the 869:Rockefeller College Faculty Page 569: 449:In 1962, Constantine joined the 368: 232: 430:Following a brief stint at the 359: 243:needs additional citations for 217:St. Joseph's Collegiate Academy 914:American state police officers 822: 797: 772: 446:Sheriff's Department in 1960. 1: 765: 442:as a deputy sheriff with the 864:An article about Constantine 7: 780:"Former DEA Administrators" 734:, a bachelor's degree from 144:Donald Osborn Chesworth Jr. 95:10th Superintendent of the 10: 930: 760:Pinehurst, North Carolina 705:Royal Ulster Constabulary 679:Oversight Commissioner NI 549:communities beset by the 222: 210: 190: 167: 162: 158: 148: 138: 128: 109:January 2, 1987 102: 94: 82: 69: 59: 48: 40: 36: 27: 20: 348:Constantine was born in 267:"Thomas A. Constantine" 732:Erie Community College 689:Oversight Commissioner 670:DEA Purple Heart Award 560: 551:crack cocaine epidemic 335: 697:Good Friday agreement 451:New York State Police 339:Thomas A. Constantine 333: 97:New York State Police 22:Thomas A. Constantine 805:"Purple Heart Award" 593:improve this section 392:improve this section 252:improve this article 719:Further information 649:on March 11, 1994. 744:Niagara University 695:. Pursuant to the 685:British Government 518:Special Prosecutor 336: 89:Donnie R. Marshall 748:Stonehill College 713:Patten Commission 629: 628: 621: 434:at King's Point, 428: 427: 420: 354:parochial schools 350:Buffalo, New York 328: 327: 320: 302: 226: 225: 178:December 23, 1938 76:Stephen H. Greene 921: 846: 845: 843: 841: 834:The Buffalo News 826: 820: 819: 817: 815: 801: 795: 794: 792: 790: 776: 693:Northern Ireland 633:Attorney General 624: 617: 613: 610: 604: 573: 565: 423: 416: 412: 409: 403: 372: 364: 323: 316: 312: 309: 303: 301: 260: 236: 228: 197: 177: 175: 163:Personal details 154:James W. McMahon 151: 141: 124: 122: 116: 114: 107: 85: 72: 53: 32: 18: 17: 929: 928: 924: 923: 922: 920: 919: 918: 874: 873: 855: 850: 849: 839: 837: 828: 827: 823: 813: 811: 803: 802: 798: 788: 786: 778: 777: 773: 768: 721: 681: 625: 614: 608: 605: 590: 574: 563: 440:law enforcement 424: 413: 407: 404: 389: 373: 362: 324: 313: 307: 304: 261: 259: 249: 237: 199: 195: 179: 173: 171: 149: 139: 120: 118: 112: 110: 108: 103: 83: 70: 54: 49: 23: 12: 11: 5: 927: 917: 916: 911: 906: 901: 896: 891: 886: 872: 871: 866: 861: 854: 853:External links 851: 848: 847: 821: 796: 770: 769: 767: 764: 720: 717: 680: 677: 627: 626: 577: 575: 568: 562: 559: 426: 425: 376: 374: 367: 361: 358: 326: 325: 240: 238: 231: 224: 223: 220: 219: 214: 208: 207: 205:North Carolina 198:(aged 76) 192: 188: 187: 169: 165: 164: 160: 159: 156: 155: 152: 146: 145: 142: 136: 135: 130: 126: 125: 100: 99: 92: 91: 86: 80: 79: 73: 67: 66: 61: 57: 56: 46: 45: 38: 37: 34: 33: 25: 24: 21: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 926: 915: 912: 910: 907: 905: 902: 900: 897: 895: 892: 890: 887: 885: 882: 881: 879: 870: 867: 865: 862: 860: 857: 856: 836:. 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Index


Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Bill Clinton
Stephen H. Greene
Donnie R. Marshall
New York State Police
Mario Cuomo
Buffalo
New York
Pinehurst
North Carolina
Alma mater
St. Joseph's Collegiate Academy

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Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Buffalo, New York
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