Former NY Police Chief, involved in Gilgo Beach murder case, arrested for alleged sex solicitation.
Former New York Police Chief Arrested on Sexual Misconduct Charges
A former New York police chief with a troubled past has once again found himself in legal trouble. James Burke, 58, was arrested on Tuesday morning for soliciting sex from an undercover park ranger, according to USA Today. This arrest comes after Burke’s previous assault and solicitation charges. He now faces charges of offering a sex act, indecent exposure, public lewdness, and criminal solicitation.
The arrest took place during an undercover operation conducted by Suffolk County park rangers in response to numerous complaints about solicitation in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Farmingville. Despite his law enforcement background, Burke’s attempts to use his past status to evade trouble were unsuccessful, as reported by the Associated Press.
Sgt. Brian Quattrini revealed that Burke tried to leverage his identity, stating that this arrest would be a “public humiliation” for him. However, the park ranger who apprehended Burke did not recognize him.
A Troubled Past
From 2012 to 2015, Burke served as the Suffolk County police chief and oversaw the initial investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders. However, his handling of the case was heavily criticized, as he did not involve the FBI immediately after the discovery of four women’s bodies near Gilgo Beach on Long Island.
Due to his mishandling of the investigation, many suspected Burke of being the serial killer. However, another man has since been arrested and charged with the crimes, dispelling those suspicions.
In 2016, Burke was sentenced to 46 months in prison for assaulting a man who was in police custody. The victim, Christopher Loeb, had stolen a duffle bag from Burke’s car, which reportedly contained sex toys and pornographic DVDs. Burke resigned as police chief before federal prosecutors charged him with the assault and cover-up.
Burke’s probation for the incident ended last year, according to the AP.
Prior to his tenure as police chief, Burke had faced trouble for engaging in sexual activities with a prostitute in his patrol car. This connection to sex workers was also used to link him to the Gilgo Beach murders, but no evidence was found to support these claims.
New Developments in the Gilgo Beach Murders
In July, another man was arrested for the Gilgo Beach murders. However, The Daily Wire refrains from naming him to avoid providing the notoriety that mass killers often seek.
According to CNN, investigators have developed a theory that the suspect committed the murders in his own home in Massapequa Park, New York. The suspect’s family was out of town during the time of the murders, suggesting that he may have lured the victims to his residence.
Authorities are currently searching the suspect’s home for trace evidence of the victims, as this theory suggests that killing them in his own environment would have allowed him to control the situation while having easy access to materials found with the victims at Gilgo Beach, such as tape and burlap bags.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...