Former Long Island police chief, James Burke, has been arrested for alleged sexual misconduct at a public park in Farmingville, Long Island. This comes after his previous federal prison sentence for beating a suspect. Burke, 58, was taken into custody by park rangers and faces charges of offering a sex act, public lewdness, indecent exposure, and criminal solicitation. Additional charges may be pending. Burke’s arrest follows a turbulent period as police chief, culminating in his conviction and the conviction of other officials on federal charges of obstruction and assault.
During his tenure as Suffolk County Police Department chief, Burke led one of the largest police forces in the country from 2012 to 2015. This three-year period was marked by controversy, including his handling of the high-profile investigation into the Gilgo Beach killings. The Gilgo Beach case involved the discovery of several sex workers’ bodies along a desolate stretch of Long Island coastline. Burke’s decision to end cooperation with the FBI in the case drew significant criticism.
James Burke tendered his resignation as police chief in late 2015, shortly before federal prosecutors brought charges against him for assaulting a handcuffed man, Christopher Loeb. The assault occurred in a police station interrogation room and was motivated by Loeb’s alleged theft of embarrassing items from Burke’s police department SUV. These items included sex toys and pornography. In 2016, Burke pleaded guilty to violating Loeb’s civil rights and obstructing justice. He confessed to leading a conspiracy to conceal his involvement in the assault. As a result, he served a 40-month prison sentence and was released in April 2019.
It was suspected that Loeb’s thefts were connected to his heroin addiction. Consequently, Loeb’s three-year prison sentence was vacated following Burke’s guilty plea. Former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and the chief of Spota’s anti-corruption bureau, Christopher McPartland, were also convicted for their roles in covering up the assault. Both Spota and McPartland are currently serving five-year prison sentences.
According to federal prosecutors, Burke, Spota, McPartland, and other police officers engaged in discussions and phone calls regarding the concealment of Burke’s role in Loeb’s assault. They were accused of pressuring individuals not to cooperate with investigators, providing false information, and withholding relevant information from investigators.
The recent arrest of James Burke for alleged sexual misconduct at a public park adds to the troubled legacy of his tenure as police chief. The ongoing fallout from the Gilgo Beach case and the subsequent federal charges against multiple officials have further marred the reputation of the Suffolk County Police Department. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of Burke’s alleged misconduct, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
