Suffolk County Legislator Trotta Demands Demotion of former Suffolk County Chief of Police Burke

After Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone met with Chief of Police James Burke and it was mutually agreed upon that Chief Burke would resign from the Police Department, Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta has requested that he be demoted to the rank of Captain prior to the effective date of his retirement this November. According to Legislator Trotta, “While the demotion will not reduce Mr. Burke’s approximate $175,000 yearly pension, it will, however, save the taxpayers of Suffolk County about $100,000 in his anticipated accrual time by reducing that estimated  payout from $440,000 to  around $330,000.”  “That savings could be applied to the cost of defending the lawsuit that has been filed against the County due to Mr. Burke’s alleged conduct surrounding the arrest of a Smithtown man in December 2012 for stealing items from Burke’s SUV,” Trotta added.

Bellone at microphones and Burke to his right

“As Mr. Burke was appointed to the position of Chief of Police when Steve Bellone took office as the Suffolk County Executive, it is only fitting that he be the one to issue the demotion and I have asked him to direct the Police Commissioner do so,” said Legislator Trotta.