KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger is calling for expanded efforts to prevent domestic violence following the killing of a Plattekill woman by her husband last month.
In a letter to the editor, Metzger said recent deaths in the community have highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence and the need for greater coordination among law enforcement, courts, social service agencies and victim advocates.
The comments came after the Aug. 21 killing of Melinda “Mindy” Brugger, 54, at the couple’s home on Milton Turnpike in Plattekill. The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office determined that her husband, James Brugger, 66, shot her multiple times before attempting to conceal evidence and then taking his own life.
Investigators said the apparent motive was unresolved domestic issues. The couple was found unresponsive inside their home by a family member and a friend, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Brugger was an EMT and CPR instructor with the Westchester Medical Center Network. Her husband was a longtime firefighter who retired from the Poughkeepsie Fire Department in 2025 and had served as chief of the Plattekill Fire Department.
Metzger said the county is creating a working group within its Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Task Force to obtain direct input from survivors and identify gaps in prevention and protection.
“We can and should do more,” Metzger wrote.
She also highlighted the county’s Crime Victim Assistance Program, which provides safety planning, court accompaniment, assistance obtaining orders of protection and other services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. The program operates a 24-hour crisis hotline at 845-340-3442.
Metzger said Ulster County also is moving forward with a Lethality Assessment Program, a screening tool designed to identify high-risk domestic violence cases and connect victims with services. The county Legislature considered a countywide policy for the program this year, while the Saugerties Police Department has already trained officers in its use, according to Metzger.
The county executive also criticized a nearly 54 percent reduction in state funding for the Crime Victim Assistance Program, saying the cuts threaten programs that provide critical support to victims and survivors.
Metzger urged residents to advocate for restoration of the funding and said the county will continue working with law enforcement, government agencies and community organizations to combat domestic violence.
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