YAPHANK, N.Y. (AP) - A former suburban New York police chief who orchestrated a department cover-up after beating a handcuffed man for stealing embarrassing items from his SUV has been released from a federal prison.
Newsday says former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke was transferred to a halfway house on Friday. He’ll be released from federal custody next April.
In 2012, he pummeled a heroin addict who had taken his gun belt, ammunition, cigars and a bag of sex toys and pornography. In February, the county said it agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the addict.
The case led to the federal indictment of former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota (SPOH’-tuh), who has pleaded not guilty to obstruction and other charges involving the investigation of Burke.
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Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com
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