THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CHIEF ASSISTANT AMONG SEVERAL PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROBERT T. JOHNSON

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the appointment of Odalys Alonso as Chief Assistant District Attorney. Ms. Alonso has been a Bronx Assistant District Attorney since January 1986 and has served as a member of District Attorney Johnson’s Executive Staff for the last seven years. Ms. Alonso, a Bronx resident, is the first woman to hold the number two position in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Johnson described Ms. Alonso as “an experienced Assistant with an intimate knowledge of the Bronx Criminal Justice System. She has the ability to relate to and interact with the community, our staff, the judiciary, defense bar and court personnel.”

Ms. Alonso replaces Barry Kluger who resigned when Governor Eliot Spitzer appointed him Inspector General of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Mr. Kluger had served as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney for 32 years, the last 18 years as Mr. Johnson’s Chief Assistant.

District Attorney Johnson also announced several other key staff promotions. Assistant District Attorney Robert Dreher, Chief of the General Crimes Division, has been named to replace Alonso as an Executive Assistant District Attorney. Dreher has been a Bronx Assistant District Attorney for 33 years. His previous assignments have included Counsel to the Trial Division and Trial Division Bureau Chief.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Muroff, Deputy Chief in the Criminal Court Bureau has been named Chief of the Child Abuse / Sex Crimes Bureau. Mr. Muroff replaces Elisa Koenderman who has been appointed to the judiciary as a Civil Court Judge. Ms. Koenderman had served as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney for 23 years.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph McCormack, Deputy Chief in the Criminal Court Bureau has been named Chief of Vehicular Crime Prosecutions. McCormack, through the New York State Prosecutors Training Institute, also will serve as New York State Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. McCormack will coordinate statewide training efforts and serve as a key resource for District Attorneys around the state on vehicular crime issues.

Assistant District Attorney Jeannette Rucker, Deputy Chief of the Complaint Room / Arraignments has been promoted to Chief.