FOR THE RECORD

One of the more interesting responses to the revelations that the State Police were improperly used by the Spitzer administration to generate negative stories about Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's use of state aircraft came from Daniel DeFedericis, the president of the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association.

A Web site popular among troopers indicated that they were angry that Acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton had become a party to the dirty tricks, going so far as to generate reports about Mr. Bruno's travel, rather than merely producing what was available in response to a Freedom of Information Law request conveyed by the Governor's liaison to the State Police. Past State Police Superintendents told investigators from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's staff that such actions were unprecedented, and they were particularly surprised that Mr. Felton personally responded to the FOIL request.

Mr. DeFedericis, however, limited his comments to a single written statement: "While we are still reviewing the Attorney General's report, it is clear that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has put the integrity of the State Police above all else, and he should be applauded for that."

The careful comment, which actually cast the Governor in a positive light even as his administration was found to have corrupted the use of the State Police for political purposes, stood in stark contrast to Mr. DeFedericis's reaction last year when it was revealed that police brass concealed a 911 call and other records of a domestic violence incident at then-U.S. Rep. John E. Sweeney's home in December 2005.

After union delegate Frank Pace was transferred because of suspicion that he had leaked the report at a time when Mr. Sweeney, a Republican, was in a tough and ultimately losing fight for re-election, Mr. DeFedericis lashed out at top police officials, saying, "We don't trust them to do a complete and accurate investigation."

At the time, the Governor was Mr. Sweeney's political ally and fellow Republican, George Pataki, and the Congressman from the Saratoga area had close ties to State Police brass.

The union leader may be treading more gingerly on the recent revelations of politics intruding on police operations because of ongoing talks with the Spitzer administration about a new wage contract to replace the one that expired April 1. Even those who believe Mr. Spitzer is as pure as his campaign commercials suggested might not expect him to accept legitimate criticism of his administration in the spirit that it was given.

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John Jay College of Criminal Justice is marking the 30th anniversary of Son of Sam's capture on Aug. 10, 1977 with a retrospective Aug. 6 that will feature Ed Koch, who would be elected Mayor later that year, and Jimmy Breslin, who as a Daily News columnist received numerous letters from the serial killer, David Berkowitz.

Three separate panel discussions will be held, with other participants including "NYPD Blue" producer Bill Clark - who at the time was an NYPD Detective - FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole, and Jonathan Mahler, whose book, "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning," focused on 1977 phenomena from Son of Sam to the July blackout to arson in the South Bronx while the Yankees surged to their first World Championship in 15 years.

The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Jay, and is free to members of the public. Those wishing to attend should call (212) 484-1101.

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Veteran television producer Jamie McShane was named City Council Communications Director last week by Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Mr. McShane, who most recently managed political coverage for WNBC's television and Web broadcasts, a decade ago was nominated for a New York Emmy for his work producing "Inside City Hall" for New York 1.

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Our congratulations and best wishes to this newspaper's former associate editor (and current reporter for the United Teacher) Deidre McFadyen, who got married July 28 to Hector Figueroa, the chief negotiator for Building Service Workers Local 32-BJ.