Rockville Centre detective faces hate crime charges over incident in Manorville, Long Island
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. - A Rockville Centre police detective faces hate crime charges following an incident in Manorville, prosecutors said Wednesday.
John Murphy Jr. is accused of attacking a cell phone company worker and using a racial slur.
According to authorities, on Nov. 3 around 7 p.m. Murphy, 40, approached an cell company subcontractor who was working at the the corner of Sylvan Court and Weeks Avenue, checking the strength of a 5G signal.
Murphy allegedly asked what the man was doing in the area. The victim, a Black man, said he had a right to be there, and showed his company I.D.
"The man yelled at him, and indicated he was a member of law enforcement and would know who is supposed to be there. He used a racial slur and kicked the door," Suffolk County Acting Police Commissioner Robert Warring said.
Murphy then allegedly kicked the worker's SUV and tore a light off from the top of it and hurled it at the worker.
"Get out of here. We don't want you or your like in the neighborhood," Murphy allegedly yelled, using a racial slur.
Murphy, a 15-year veteran of the force, faces criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment. He turned himself in and pled not guilty. He was released without bail. He has been suspended from the Rockville Centre police department, where officials say they don't comment on personnel matters.
"There is a video... and there is corroboration. There is damage to the car and a light that was damaged as well," Suffolk County D.A. Ray Tierney said.
There have been instances around the world of telecom workers being harassed for installing 5G, but officials said it matters little what this was about.
"Hate has no place in Suffolk County"
"The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle. 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," Tierney said. "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."
"To date, we've had 17 hate crimes in this county, and 68 hate incidents. There is no place for hate in this county. We're not tolerant of people who do these type of things," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "I don't care what your status is in life, and this gentleman happened to be a detective in another police department in Rockville Centre, but that doesn't excuse hate. Hate has no place in Suffolk County, regardless, and we will pursue all these hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law because it has no place in Suffolk County."
Neighbors said the incident seems out of character.
"I don't understand that. I can't see him doing that. He is such a friendly guy," neighbor John Fontana said.
"I've been to their house several times, and he doesn't seem like the type of person who would do that, ever," another neighbor said.
