Officials say that disgraced former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke was arrested Monday for soliciting someone for sex at a Farmingville park on Long Island.
They say the incident happened at approximately 10:15 AM on Bald Hill at the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park. Burke, 58, allegedly said he was interested in oral sex as he exposed himself to a park ranger wearing plain clothes.
The park rangers who then came to arrest Burke did not recognize the former police chief until he identified himself.
Suffolk County park ranger Sgt. Brian Quattrini told News12 that it appeared as if Burke was attempting to avoid arrest: “He was expressing to us how this would be a public humiliation for him and such.”
Burke has been charged with offering a sex act, public lewdness, indecent exposure, and criminal solicitation, with additional potential charges pending. He was allowed to leave Suffolk County’s Sixth Precinct in Selden in the afternoon, but he’s due to be arraigned on September 11th. He could be charged with more crimes, according to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
From 2012 to 2015, Burke was Suffolk County’s police chief. He later pleaded guilty to federal charges for beating a handcuffed man suspected of stealing pornographic material, sex toys, and other items. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison but served 40 and was released in 2019.
Burke also once oversaw the high-profile investigation into the Gilgo Beach killings. His handling of the investigation, including a decision to end cooperation with the FBI, has been widely criticized and has only drawn renewed scrutiny with the case back in the spotlight.
