Defendant Is a Detective with the Rockville Centre Police Department
By Hank Russell
A Manorville man was arrested for harassing and intentionally damaging a man’s vehicle due to the man’s race.
A subcontractor for a cellular company was working in a GMC Terrain at the corner of Sylvan Court and Weeks Avenue in Manorville on November 3 at 7 p.m. when John Murphy approached him. Murphy asked the subcontractor what he was doing in the area. Murphy, who identified himself as a law enforcement officer, refused to look at the worker’s credentials. He then kicked the GMC, causing damage, ripped off the light affixed to the top of the vehicle and threw it at the worker, who is Black, while using a racial slur.
Murphy, 40, who is a detective with the Rockville Centre Police Department, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, a felony, and second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor.
Suffolk County District Attorney commented on the incident. “The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle,” he said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the Rockville Centre Police Department for comment and is waiting to hear back.
Murphy will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on November 13.