American Legion Department of New York review: Unprofessional behavior from the department adjutant

I originally posted this on another complaint site but want to make this more public.

I attended the 2022 Department Convention in Binghamton, NY from July 13-16, 2022. I was a delegate for my county.

On the Wednesday before the convention (July 12, 2022), I noticed the Department Adjutant, James Casey and an officer from a different district standing to the side with at least 30 other people going around doing their business.

Casey was screaming at this person accusing him of this and that.

I was appalled at Casey's treatment of this individual. Whatever he was accused of, he kept insisting that he was not guilty. Casey kept reaming this person, not even listening to his side of the story. It seems that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Eventually the man stormed off saying that he would get a lawyer. I could tell he was very upset. Many people witnessed this and were stunned.

Casey acted in a very unprofessional and incompetent way. He should have set aside a small private room and talked to him in there, away from other people.

That's how it's done at my post.

He also should have allowed another person in the room to represent him. Casey should have also played a neutral role and listened to both sides of the argument instead of being one-sided.

On Friday (July 14, 2022), I found out from another member from the individual's district that he was accused of inappropriately touching a female. He stated that this is something that he would not do. If he touched her, it was unintentional since he knows both him and his wife.

Then he went on to say that the out-going District Commander, a Richard Price, had been banned from Morrisville College, during Boy State, because he threatened somebody. He also assaulted a female during one of the Mid-Winter Conferences. All Casey did was give him a slap-on-the-wrist. He threatened this other individual with expulsion.

I don't personally know Casey but I respected him since I started going to the conventions and conferences back in 2010.

However, he lost that respect. I was planning to get involved at the District level, but I have no desire to do so now. Maybe will consider this when Casey resigns.

I hope the individual gets a lawyer.