Cover photo: Commissioner Robert Waring (Credit – Matt Meduri)
A Rockville Center police detective is facing charges for allegedly harassing a man due to his race.
Police say that a subcontractor for a cell company was performing maintenance on a 5G tower in a GMC Terrain around 7:00p.m. on November 3 at the corner of Sylvan Court and Weeks Avenue in Manorville. John Murphy, 40, of Manorville, allegedly identified himself to the subcontractor, who is black, as a police officer, who is also alleged to have used a racial slur, kicked the vehicle’s door, and torn a work lift off the vehicle and smashed it on the ground.
The victim drove around the corner and called the police. Following an investigation by the Hate Crime Bureau, John Murphy was charged with two counts of criminal misdemeanor of theft and one degree of a hate crime and aggravated harassment.
Murphy had been with the Rockville Center Police Department for fifteen years and apparently turned himself into police.
“This year, we’ve had seventeen hate crimes and sixty-eight hate incidents,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “There is no place for hate in this county. I don’t care what your status is in life; this gentleman [Murphy] happened to be a detective in another police department, but that doesn’t excuse hate.”
Hate crimes are different from hate incidents, wherein hate crimes typically have a victim to whom the attack was directed, whereas hate incidents are more or less victimless, at least directly. Hate incidents can range from slurs or offensive graffiti in public spaces.
“The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle. To make matters worse, the defendant is a sworn law enforcement officer, responsible for protecting the rights of citizens, rather than violating them, as is alleged here,” said District Attorney Ray Tierney (R). “I thank the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit for taking this crime seriously and following the evidence no matter where it led. Such conduct will not be tolerated in Suffolk County.”
Murphy has reportedly been relieved of duty, but it is not clear if he has been suspended without pay. The Village of Rockville Centre said that they do not “comment on personal matters.”
