Chief Assistant District Attorney and Two 1st Assistant District Attorney Named as well as Chief of Detectives and Narcotics Task Force Director

Rockland District Attorney Elect Tom Walsh announced today his executive staff. The selection of the staff will bring the leadership and expertise needed to ensure a smooth transition as he takes office January 1, 2020. The key positions include the Chief District Attorney, two 1st Assistant District Attorneys, Chief of Detectives and the Director of the Narcotics Task Force.

Patrick Frawley– Chief Assistant District Attorney- Pat Frawley was a highly decorated Detective with the Town of Orangetown Police Department who was well known for his successful criminal investigations and high-profile arrests throughout his career ranging from homicide to money laundering. Pat went to law school while working full-time with the Orangetown Police Department graduating Cum Laude from Pace Law School in White Plains. Following his law enforcement career, Pat worked for Bartlett, McDonough and Monaghan prior to opening his own private practice in Orangeburg. In addition, he helped implement many new safety initiatives with the Clarkstown Central School District as their Coordinator of Safety and Security. Some of his exhaustive credentials include completion of the F.B.I. Criminal Investigators course, NYPD Homicide Investigators School, NYPD Sex Crimes/Child Abuse School and also traveled to Israel in 2003 to train with the Israeli Police and Global ATS in anti-terrorism methods.

Chuck Apotheker– 1st Assistant District Attorney- Judge Apotheker has been an attorney or over 40 years during which time he was an elected Haverstraw Town Justice for 27 years and County Judge and Acting Supreme Court Judge for 10 years. Not only was Judge Apotheker the Presiding Judge of the Rockland Felony Drug Court, he has a national reputation as a Drug Court practitioner. Judge Apotheker is a member of the faculty of the National Drug Court Institute where he has mentored Drug Court teams throughout the United States in best practices, and lectured at National Association conferences.

Barbara Gionta– 1st Assistant District Attorney Barbara Gionta is a former County Court Judge in Rockland, and was a Rockland County Senior Assistant District Attorney, where she was in charge of Domestic Violence prosecutions.  She is also a former Assistant Public Defender, and is a current Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Orangetown. She is a former Director of the Rockland County Women’s Bar Association, and currently a Representative for that organization’s Judiciary Screening Committee.  She has also served as the Chairperson for the Family Law Committee of the Rockland County Bar Association.

Peter Walker– Chief of Detectives- Detective Peter Walker is a 26 year veteran of the NYPD and Clarkstown Police Department. He has extensive training and experience in Investigations, Records Management Supervision and Media Relations. Peter is also a 27 year veteran of the United States Navy reserves, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer, a senior enlisted command leader. 

George Lutz– Director of Narcotics Task Force- Detective Sergeant George Lutz is a 29 year veteran of the Haverstraw Police Department. He began his career with the Village of Haverstraw Police Department and then the Town of Haverstraw Police department after the merge in 2008. In 2006 he was promoted to Detective Sergeant supervising the 6 detectives assigned to the bureau. .

District Attorney Elect Walsh said, “My Executive Staff is a very accomplished group of professionals whom I have hand selected to carry out the mission of keeping Rockland safe and united. In order to effectively run this office and implement the upcoming Criminal Justice Reform, I needed the right people. This group of professionals, all of whom possess the talents needed for these positons, have the integrity and the leadership required to safeguard the public’s trust.”

District Attorney Walsh is confident that he and his leadership team will build strong relationships with both law enforcement agencies and the people he serves, the people of Rockland County. Working together to build trust and keep our communities safe will be the focus of the entire office.

In addition to the executive staff there will be two new Assistant District Attorneys and an IT Specialist hired due to additional funding being granted by the Rockland County Legislature. These positions will be instrumental in handling the increased workload generated by the upcoming Criminal Justice Reform