Democracy In Albany

A state judge has ordered the city of Albany to give the Times Union copies of records related to the illegal purchase of dozens of machine guns by Albany police officers.

The gun store investigation was later scuttled, in part, according to people familiar with the probe, because of concern by federal authorities that the Albany police gun scandal would become public.

Either way, McDonough questioned the legitimacy of that now 2-year-old investigation.

"Tellingly, Chief Tuffey fails to identify his or the Albany Police Department's actions as a criminal investigation, makes no mention of any criminal charges that might result from the investigation, and does not discuss the effect that statutes of limitations might have on the viability of such prosecutions," McDonough wrote.

"Moreover, Chief Tuffey fails to offer any explanation as to why the investigation, admittedly initiated in early 2006, has yet to be completed, or describe the need for additional investigatory steps," the judge added.