Former Suffolk County, New York, police chief James Burke is facing federal civil rights and conspiracy charges after a 2012 incident in which he allegedly brutalized a prisoner suspected of stealing from his squad car and instructed officers to lie about it. According to CBS New York:
James Burke, 51, surrendered to federal authorities at his home in St. James on Wednesday morning and was later seen being led into FBI headquarters in Melville in handcuffs.
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Christopher Loeb, 29, claims Burke beat him after he was arrested for stealing a duffel bag containing a gun belt and ammunition from Burke’s unmarked police SUV, which was parked in front of the chief’s house. Loeb pleaded guilty to stealing the bag in 2014 and is serving three years in prison.
Loeb has insisted the bag also contained pornography and other disturbing items. He and his attorney claim that was the motive for Burke ganging up with other Suffolk County officers and beating Loeb at the police precinct station house following the arrest, Burrell reported.
“The defendant, Burke, entered the interrogation room and is alleged to have repeatedly slapped and punched Loeb about the face,” Capers said. “Burke repeatedly met with members of the Suffolk County Police Department who had witnessed Burke’s assault of Loeb to agree on ways to get their stories straight.”
Prosecutors allege that Burke pressured other officers to lie about the incident, even persuading a detective to deny the attack on Loeb in a state pretrial hearing. Loeb also alleges that he was coerced into stealing the bag and filed charges against Burke and the county. Other officers who may have been pressured to lie about the events are also under investigation. Under pressure from the federal probe, Burke retired from the police force in October.