Details Sparse in Food Pantry Theft

There are more questions than answers five days after six Harrison town employees were arrested for .

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh late last week and said that all employees allegedly involved in the heists are currently suspended without pay. She said Friday that the town has no further comment at this time.

The Harrison Police Department, meanwhile, has not officially commented on the issue, citing an on-going investigation. Specific charges have also not been confirmed at this time. Calls to the police department Monday morning seeking arrest reports for the six were not immediately returned. 

The identity of only half of the six employees have been confirmed. Florence D’Imperio, Harrison's 91-year-old Meals on Wheels Program Treasurer and her son Billy were arrested along with Sherry Toplyn, a part-time town clerical employee, sources say. Despite wide speculation, the identities of three public works employees also arrested have not been confirmed.

Toplyn has organized and operated a new program at the for the last six months. The program is geared toward helping unemployed members of the community find jobs through networking programs.

Calls to Toplyn and D'Imperio seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Freedom of Information requests from the town were unavailable Monday, as is closed for Presidents' Day. 

The delivers food to low-income families and accepts cash donations from several local organizations on an on-going basis. Last year the pantry accepted thousands of dollars from groups including the and the .

No one was inside the food pantry, located in the old girl scouts building at 140 Crotona Avenue, on Monday. The back entrance to the building was locked.

Comments posted on the original Patch story ranged from anger at town leadership to support for more donations to show support for the charitable department.

Others related the issue to the "Facebook Four" story two years ago when four town employees were accused of making inappropriate comments about town leadership on the social networking site. Those employees were suspended and punished by the town board, but were allowed to keep their jobs.

Some asked jokingly if the allegedly stolen food is available for catering.

More questions than answers indeed.