Suffolk panel votes to pay $1 million to cabdriver shot by cop

Suffolk County legislators agreed Thursday to pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit by a Huntington Station cabdriver Suffolk police arrested wrongfully after an off-duty Nassau police officer shot him in an alcohol-fueled road rage.

The Ways and Means Committee approved the payment to Thomas Moroughan in a unanimous vote, said Legis. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), Ways and Means chairman.

The settlement comes after Newsday’s Inside Internal Affairs investigation recounted how the Suffolk Police Department shielded then-Nassau officer Anthony DiLeonardo by wrongfully arresting Moroughan.

The investigation revealed top leaders in the Suffolk department thwarted an effort to hold two sergeants accountable in connection with Moroughan’s arrest.

Anthony Grandinette, Moroughan’s attorney, declined to comment Thursday, saying he could not discuss the settlement until after a vote by full Suffolk County Legislature.

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After Nassau County approved a $2 million settlement for Moroughan last week, Grandinette said Nassau and Suffolk were compensating his client for “egregious police misconduct.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said in a statement Thursday that Suffolk police officials have since "implemented a series of reforms" to the internal affairs department.

New Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, "is building on these reform efforts to further increase transparency and accountability," Bellone said.

In February 2011, DiLeonardo shot Moroughan, then 26, twice and broke his nose after Moroughan had yelled at him for reckless driving.

Suffolk Police, handling the case because the shooting occurred in Huntington Station, initially accepted DiLeonardo’s account he had shot Moroughan in self-defense.

Police charged Moroughan with assault after detectives took a hospital-bed statement from the cabdriver, who while on narcotic pain medication purportedly exonerated DiLeonardo and incriminated himself.

The Suffolk district attorney’s office later dropped the charges against Moroughan.

Suffolk police ruled there was no misconduct by any member of the force and ordered no discipline.

While the department’s internal affairs chief called for filing misconduct charges against a sergeant and a detective sergeant, then-Commissioner Edward Webber overruled him.

Former Chief of Detectives William Madigan pressed the internal affairs commanding officer to delete evidence, including accounts that DiLeonardo smelled of alcohol and that Moroughan had been given morphine, according to a report obtained by Newsday.

The Nassau Police Department dismissed DiLeonardo three years after the shooting.

DiLeonardo's attorney, Bruce Barket, has said DiLeonardo was justified in shooting Moroughan.

Moroughan’s lawsuit against both counties initially sought $30 million in damages.

Suffolk had argued its officers had “acted reasonably and in good faith.”

By Rachelle Blidner

rachelle.blidner@newsday.com@rachelleblidner

Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news.