The former Chief of Department for the Suffolk County Police Department, James Burke, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Leonard D. Wexler. Burke pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation and conspiracy to obstruct justice in February 2016.
The sentence stems from Burke’s assault of a Smithtown man, Christopher Loeb, who had been arrested for breaking into Burke’s SCPD-issued vehicle and stealing his property on December 14, 2012. Following the assault, Burke and other Suffolk County law enforcement authorities took actions to obstruct the federal civil rights investigation into the assault.
‘During his tenure as the highest ranking uniformed officer in the Suffolk County Police Department, James Burke considered himself untouchable,’ said Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. ‘He abused his authority by brazenly assaulting a handcuffed prisoner, he pressured subordinates to lie to cover up his criminal acts, and he attempted to thwart the civil rights investigation into his conduct.’
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr., added, ‘Burke’s abuse of power and efforts to obstruct justice not only threatened to undermine the integrity of a federal investigation, but also the reputation of all the Suffolk County police officers who value the laws they are sworn to uphold.’
On December 14, 2012, New York State Probation Department and SCPD officers arrested probationer Christopher Loeb at his mother’s home in Smithtown, New York, for a variety of probation violations. During the arrest and search of the Loeb residence, officers discovered a cache of merchandise stolen from over a dozen vehicles, including an SCPD-issued SUV operated by Burke.
Burke was permitted to enter the Loeb residence and retrieve the canvas bag and several other articles, even as the search was underway. He then drove to the SCPD’s Fourth Precinct in Smithtown where detectives had begun interrogating Loeb. Burke entered the interrogation room where Loeb was handcuffed and chained to an eyebolt fastened to the floor. Burke then punched and kicked Loeb in the head and body.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lara Treinis Gatz and John J. Durham are in charge of the prosecution, assisted by EDNY Investigator William Hessle.
The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).
Related Federal Cases
- Campbell’s Death: Justified Police Force, Says Report · New York
- Buffalo Police Fatality Under Scrutiny by NY AG’s OSI · Minnesota
- James’ Victory in Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Aid Battle · Illinois
- Cop Slashing Case: No Charges for Suffolk Officers in Woodson Death · New York
- Sununu Declares War on Trump’s GOP Grip · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News