MINEOLA, New York — A former suburban New York police
official convicted of pulling strings to help the son of a wealthy department
benefactor was sentenced Monday to 60 days in jail and three months community
service.
William Flanagan, a former Nassau County deputy police
commissioner, plans to appeal the official misconduct conviction and sentence,
his attorney told reporters following a court hearing that was jammed with
dozens of his relatives and supporters, including U.S. Rep. Peter King.
"We fully expect him to be exonerated of these
charges," attorney Bruce Barket said. Flanagan, who was cheered by
supporters following the sentencing proceeding, thanked his backers but did not
speak with reporters.
After the proceeding, King called Flanagan "one of the
most honest people I've ever met."
Prosecutors said Flanagan and two others arranged the
dropping of an investigation into the theft of about $10,000 in electronics
from a Long Island high school because the suspected thief was the son of a
businessman who had wined and dined police brass and made generous donations to
a police foundation.
Police never charged the teen, Zachary Parker, but he was
later indicted by a grand jury after the district attorney's office took over
the investigation. Parker pleaded guilty and is serving up to three years in
prison.
Flanagan, 55, and the others took the extraordinary steps as
a favor to Parker's father, Gary, a partner in a Manhattan accounting firm,
prosecutors said. The elder Parker, a longtime supporter of police causes, was
not charged with any crime.
Flanagan, who was a Nassau officer for nearly 30 years,
helped broker the return of the electronics, prosecutors said, and afterward he
received a thank-you card from the Parkers that included several hundred
dollars of gift cards to a steakhouse.
Barket argued at trial that his client was merely trying to
help arrange the return of the stolen property to the school.
"He's never disputed that he engaged in the conduct of
inquiring about the return of stolen property to its owner," Barket said.
"Such conduct is not criminal."
Barket also reacted to Judge Mark Cohen's comments that
Flanagan had shown no remorse that would merit a lenient sentence.
"He's shown no remorse because he's done nothing
wrong," Barket said
One of the other police officials charged in the case, former
Chief of Patrol John Hunter, pleaded guilty in May to official misconduct and
conspiracy charges. He was sentenced to three years' probation and 500 hours of
community service.
A third officer, Seventh Precinct Squad Deputy Supervisor
Alan Sharpe, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
