"The Public Deserves To Know" Republican Legislators Call For Federal Oversight

Suffolk County Legislators at Dec. 15 press conferenceTrue to their word, five Republican Suffolk County Legislators sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch requesting a federal monitor to review appointment procedures and day to day operations of the Suffolk County Police Department. The legislators announced their intention to request federal oversight at a press conference on Dec. 15.

Legislators Kevin McCaffrey 14th LD, Tom Muratore 4th LD, Tom Cilmi 10th LD, Leslie Kennedy 12 LD and Robert Trotta 13 LD wrote to the Attorney General expressing “greatest sense of urgency”  and concern that “…oversight is absolutely critical in ensuring the integrity of our justice system, maintaining public safety, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.”

The legislators are reacting to the resignation, arrest and denial of bail to former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke. 

Burke, appointed by County Executive Steve Bellone in 2012, is alleged to have violated the civil rights of Christopher Loeb, a former Smithtown resident, after the man stole items from Burke’s police SUV parked outside his house. Burke is also alleged to have been involved in beating Loeb and a cover-up of the incident.

The legislators have also asked Attorney General Lynch to investigate what County Executive Bellone knew about the incident saying “The public deserves to know if Bellone knew about the questionable fitness of Burke, and if so, why the appointment was made regardless.”

The legislators are seething at the fact that despite the arrest of his appointee James Burke,  County Executive appointed a new police commissioner without doing a nationwide search. County Exec Bellone has tapped Tim Sini, a former federal prosecuter with little experience in police work to become Suffolk County Police Commissioner. 

The legislators’ letter was written December 21. There has not yet been a response. There is an ongoing federal presence investigating James Burke.

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