Editorial - Yes We Are Weary But ....

Legislator Trotta along with other Republican legislators at Dec. press conferenceeEven though we are only a few days into 2016 the public appears weary. They, we, are weary of political debates, politicians who pander, stupid questions asked to candidates, but mostly we are weary of political scandals. That is not to say we are weary of crooked politicians being tossed into a prison cell. We are weary of hearing how people who have betrayed our trust are entitled to taxpayer funded pensions, health care and whatever else elected officials have determined they are entitled to receive. 

Newsday has done an excellent job of informing the public about government corruption. Those who are paying attention are almost unanimous in their support of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara.* “Come to my neighborhood”, is a phrase that can be heard all over Long Island. Again they, we, are weary.

Sheldon Silver, Dean Skelos and the others involved in Albany’s scandals are last year’s news. 2016 appears to be about happenings closer to home. 

Locally, Ed Walsh, chairman of the Suffolk County Conservative Party and a lieutenant in the Suffolk County Sheriff Department is heading to trial for theft of services in which the government alleges that Walsh misrepresented the hours worked and the compensation he was entitled to receive. 

Then there is James Burke, Chief of Police in the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) until December when he was handcuffed and jailed. For years Robert Trotta, legislator in the 13th LD, has been vocal about problems within the Suffolk County Police Department hierarchy. The December arrest of Burke has provided Trotta with the opportunity to take a victory lap. 

Mr. Trotta, retired from the SCPD, was aggrieved by James Burke when he was part of the SCPD/FBI task force. Burke removed Trotta from the task force. Trotta never forgot.

Currently Burke has been incarcerated without bail for over a month.  

Legislator Trotta is calling for the Suffolk County Legislature to begin a legislative hearing on law enforcement operations. Not all the legislators are supportive of his propsal. Good for him.  It would be easy to discount his actions as revenge seeking. Revenge does not explain Burke’s incarceration. Certainly James Burke’s imprisonment and denial of bail may be gratifying for Trotta, the fact remains that if federal prosecutors didn’t believe Burke engaged in criminal activity he wouldn’t be sitting in a jail cell.  

A hearing would be a double edge sword for Trotta. If the hearing is bumbled Trotta will look at best foolish and at worse vindictive and inept. If the hearing is successful residents may hear what has been happening in our police department for which we pay dearly. 

Yes we are weary but not so weary that we won’t support investigating questionable behavior …..Preet Bharara please visit us and stay as long as you feel it’s necessary.

Pat

* correction was made to Preet Bharara’s title. Mr. Bharara is U.S.Attorney for the Southern District of New York