Cover photo: Suffolk DA Ray Tierney (Credit – Matt Meduri)
District Attorney Ray Tierney’s (R) latest announcement of a three-year investigation that busted two prostitution rings managed by a vetted member of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) and an Islip High School teacher shows that some people are truly unaware of the dangers of flying too close to the sun.
Both public positions are of generally well-respected careers, but to have allegedly acted in such nefarious ways is enough to make some people look at them differently.
We here at The Messenger understand neither individual is representative of their respective fields, but we can also understand why some are likely to be off-put by the charges.
One reporter at Tuesday’s press conference became argumentative with D.A. Tierney on this issue, first alleging that qualified immunity shielded the officer from any wrongdoing during his time on the force. Qualified immunity obviously has nothing to do with this, as the concept only applies to actions taken within the scope of duty.
The incensed reporter’s vendetta became clear when he claimed that he’s been harassed by police officers for seemingly no apparent reason. When Tierney vocally disagreed with his allusions to a broader problem within the department, the reporter retorted “that’s horrible.”
We think it’s reprehensible to engage in that type of conduct with public officials, especially those presenting and prosecuting evidence that takes these people off public payroll and into jail cells for what could be a rather long time. Moreover, using a major press conference to air personal grievances for unspecified reasons is just immature and, quite frankly, lame.
But our bigger question is more or less of what the case reminds us of. The officer allegedly involved in the prostitution ring, which also saw sex workers forced to sign “lease” agreements that conscripted them to their “service,” was on the force since 2006. The officer is also alleged to have managed his properties while in uniform and on duty.
We can think of another long-time Suffolk cop who participated in prostitution-centric activities while on duty.
The ghost of Jimmy Burke’s decency serves as a poignant reminder of just what kind of “inner circle” and power class was set up in the department, enabled by crooked former D.A. Tom Spota (D), and passively allowed by former County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). Although Burke wouldn’t be appointed by Bellone as police chief until 2012, he had served in the SCPD since 1995.
We’re not laying blame squarely on these three men for this particular incident, but it begs the question of whether or not the officer allegedly involved in such schemes was a leftover byproduct of an old guard that Caligula probably would have enjoyed running.
We commend D.A. Tierney, the SCPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, and all investigators and bodies involved in bringing this three-year case to light. It is our hope, that if the officer in question is, in fact, proven guilty, that another palace guard serves time for his crimes and breach of public trust.
