One of perhaps Suffolk County’s most scandalous figures has solicited his way back into the public eye.
Although former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke left much to be desired during his tenure at Yaphank, his notoriety continues to precede him, primarily as information regarding the long-unsolved – until now – Gilgo Beach murders.
However, Tuesday’s ordeal reeked less of conspiracy and intrigue and more of humiliation, desperation, and bad manners. Burke was caught at a county park allegedly petitioning a male for sexual relations while exposing himself. Instead, the encounter quickly changed course as he was arrested on charges of solicitation and indecent exposure.
Burke, 59, was processed at the Sixth Precinct in Selden on Middle Country Road Tuesday afternoon. A brief press conference held by Commissioner Rodney Harrison was held during Burke’s processing.
According to Harrison, the department was conducting a regular prostitution sting operation using plain clothes officers at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park on Bald Hill in Farmingville due to complaints about activity in the area.
“At 10:15a.m. today, during this operation, we engaged one individual who was soliciting for sexual engagements,” said Harrison. “Due to the actions which I am not going to share, this individual was placed under arrest. Rangers ascertained that the perpetrator involved was James Burke, former Chief of Suffolk County Police Department.”
Harrison shared the charges: “He is being charged with offering a sex act, indecent exposure, public lewdness, and criminal solicitation in the fifth degree. Additional charges may be pending.
What makes Burke’s arrest even more high-profile is that his criminal status in the eyes of federal law enforcement is unknown by officials.
“We are still currently trying to ascertain if he is still on federal parole,” said Harrison.
This is in reference to Burke’s 2016 sentencing for the 2013 assault of Christopher Loeb in police custody. Loeb broke into Burke’s police SUV and stole a bag which contained cigars, sex toys, and pornography. Loeb was assaulted while under interrogation, which Burke then tried to obscure by attempting to influence his subordinates once he learned he was the subject of a federal probe.
Burke was sentenced to forty-six months in prison. He was released to house arrest in November 2018 and completed his sentence in April 2019.
Regarding Tuesday’s sting, police officials said that within mere minutes of beginning the investigation, Burke allegedly approached a male undercover officer, exposed himself, and propositioned him. The officer did not know Burke was the former police chief until Burke was identified.
When asked if Burke tried to avoid arrest, Sergeant Brian Quattrini confirmed that he did:
“He was trying to get out of being arrested. He was expressing to us how this would be a public humiliation for him.”
Chief Stephen Laton discussed the ongoing operations at the Bald Hill Park, claiming that the precinct receives numerous complaints of prostitution there:
“We had our unit reach problematic areas within the County’s park system to address graffiti, vandalism, quality of life issues, theft, and Bald Hill is one of those areas.”
Further specifics of the arrest were not discussed. Commissioner Harrison said that details, rumors, and further information on the arrest would not be discussed while Burke was still being processed.
Burke was released from the precinct around 5:00p.m. with a summons for arraignment on September 11.
Burke started his career with the New York Police Department in the 1980s. After his move to the Suffolk County Police Department, a 1995 internal probe found that Burke engaged in sexual activity with escorts in known prostitution and drug dealing rings in his vehicle while on duty and in uniform.
In 2012, County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) appointed him as Suffolk County’s Chief of Police.
He served until his 2015 resignation for the assault of Chris Loeb and the ensuing cover-up. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges of assault and obstruction of justice.
Burke famously presided over the Gilgo Beach serial killings, during which he ended Suffolk County’s cooperation with the FBI.
District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) made national headlines for his breakthrough in the case by matching obtained DNA to Rex Heuermann. Tierney defeated sitting District Attorney Tim Sini (D) in 2021, denying the county’s top prosecutor a second term.
Some believe that Burke’s hampering of the Gilgo Beach murders was intentional, given his long track-record of drug-enhanced trysts with prostitutes. At his 2016 sentencing, Riverhead resident Terri Schofield claimed that Burke himself was the Gilgo Beach serial killer. What seemed like a baseless accusation then now appears – to some – more in line with recent findings.
Burke’s ascension within the police department was facilitated by former District Attorney Tom Spota (D), who met a teenage Burke while prosecuting a murder case.
Spota served as Suffolk County District Attorney from 2002-2017. He was found guilty on federal charges of obstruction of justice in Burke’s assault investigation. Spota, 81-82, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2021.
