Trotta presses for Burke demotion

Suffolk Legis. Robert Trotta has asked County Executive Steve Bellone to demote county police chief of department James Burke to captain before he officially retires Friday so the county can save $100,000 on his exit pay for unused sick and vacation time.

“As Mr. Burke was appointed to the position of chief of police when Steve Bellone took office, it is only fitting the he be the one to issue the demotion,” said Trotta (R-Fort Salonga). Trotta conveyed his request to the county executive through Bellone aide Katie Horst.

Trotta, a former Suffolk police detective, said the demotion would not affect Burke’s pension, which Trotta estimated at about $175,000 a year. But it would reduce Burke’s payout for unused time from $440,000 if he were to go out as chief of department to $330,000 if he departs as a captain.

Trotta said the savings could be used to defend a lawsuit that has been filed against the county over Burke’s alleged conduct at the time of the arrest in December 2012 arrest of Christopher Loeb of Smithtown for stealing a duffel bag from Burke’s county-issued sport utility vehicle.

In a surprise move, Burke resigned from his $214,000 a year job as chief of department late last month after federal officials reopened their probe into the incident. Prosecutors have issued subpoenas for police union records and for officers to appear before a grand jury.

Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider said he did not expect Bellone to take any action on Trotta’s request, saying Burke’s retirement papers have already been filed and that he leaves at the end of the week.

“Clearly, this has nothing to do with saving taxpayer dollars,” Schneider said of Trotta’s request. “It sounds like a personal vendetta and it’s an unseemly way for an elected official to use their public office.”

Schneider said Trotta’s request “would have significantly more credibility” if he were not receiving a $93,700-a-year pension himself plus a six-figure legislative salary.