What is SaferWatch and what does its panic-button system do?

SaferWatch is a mobile panic alert system company that provides an app for school safety, involving an $11 million contract steered through alleged bribes.

What specific bribes is Kevin Taylor accused of accepting?

Kevin Taylor is accused of accepting $35,000 in cash, luxury travel, and other gifts to direct the $11 million SaferWatch contract.

Who is Geno Roefaro and what are the allegations against him?

Geno Roefaro is a Florida businessman charged alongside Taylor with bribery and wire fraud; his counsel claims he was extorted.

What are the pleas entered by the defendants?

Kevin Taylor pleaded not guilty; Geno Roefaro has not yet entered a plea. Taylor's attorney called the allegations unfounded.

When was the indictment issued and what is the background of the probe?

The federal indictment was issued on Thursday (prior to February 13, 2026), with the SaferWatch probe emerging in September 2024 as part of a broader investigation.

3 sources

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10d ago

Ex-NYPD School Safety Chief Indicted Over Panic-Button Bribes

Kevin Taylor is accused of taking $35,000 and luxury travel to steer an $11 million SaferWatch contract, prosecutors say.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Federal prosecutors charged Kevin Taylor and Geno Roefaro in an indictment on Thursday alleging bribery and wire fraud tied to a panic‑button sales scheme.

Prosecutors allege Taylor accepted $35,000 in cash, luxury travel and other gifts to steer an $11 million contract toward SaferWatch, a mobile panic alert system company.

Taylor pleaded not guilty and his attorney said the allegations are unfounded; Roefaro's counsel called the charges puzzling and said prosecutors allege Roefaro was also extorted.

Prosecutors say Taylor also tried to solicit $75,000 from two businessmen, sought more than $100,000 for a holiday party, and was transferred from his leadership post in February.

Taylor pleaded not guilty, Roefaro has not yet entered a plea, and the SaferWatch probe first emerged in September 2024 as part of a broader federal investigation.

Written using shared reports from

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Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources frame the story as part of a broader pattern of alleged corruption by highlighting prosecutors’ descriptions of lavish gifts and cash, linking the indictment to probes of the Adams administration, and juxtaposing prosecution allegations with a defense statement from Roefaro’s attorney—structural choices that foreground systemic wrongdoing over technical legal nuance.

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Former NYPD official charged with taking bribes from company selling 'panic button' to city schools

Associated Press•10d ago

New York police leader charged with bribery over school alert system scheme

The Guardian•11d ago

Feds Charge Former NYPD Official, Alleged 'Sugar Daddy' In Massive Bribery Scheme

Daily Caller•10d ago

FAQ

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: SaferWatch is a mobile panic alert system company that provides an app for school safety, involving an $11 million contract steered through alleged bribes.
Sources:
world.infonasional.com
: Kevin Taylor is accused of accepting $35,000 in cash, luxury travel, and other gifts to direct the $11 million SaferWatch contract.
Sources:
dailyvoice.com
: Geno Roefaro is a Florida businessman charged alongside Taylor with bribery and wire fraud; his counsel claims he was extorted.
Sources:
50-a.org
: Kevin Taylor pleaded not guilty; Geno Roefaro has not yet entered a plea. Taylor's attorney called the allegations unfounded.
Sources:
world.infonasional.com
: The federal indictment was issued on Thursday (prior to February 13, 2026), with the SaferWatch probe emerging in September 2024 as part of a broader investigation.
Sources:
50-a.org

History

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