on sale now at amazon

on sale now at amazon
"I don't like this book because it don't got know pictures" Chief Rhorerer

“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”
“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”

Westhampton Beach Police Officer Suspended Without Pay After Stalking Arrest



By Carol Moran   Jan 29, 2014 4:45 PM
A Westhampton Beach Village Police officer was suspended—for the fourth time in his tenure with the department—without pay on Wednesday, four months after he was arrested by Suffolk County Police and charged with fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor, according to court documents.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to suspend Joseph Pesapane without pay for 30 days pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. Board members also voted to hire Steven Kasarda, an attorney with offices in White Plains, to act as the hearing officer.

Mr. Kasarda will draft a report based on the testimony during the hearing and will make a recommendation to the board, which, with advice from its counsel, will make the ultimate decision over a possible punishment, board members said.

While village officials did not name Mr. Pesapane during a special meeting held on Wednesday afternoon at Village Hall, and referred to him in a resolution only as an employee of the village, multiple sources confirmed that he was the subject of the disciplinary action.

Suffolk County Police confirmed on Wednesday that Mr. Pesapane was arrested on September 29 and charged with fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor. The alleged incident occurred three days prior at around 3 a.m., according to court documents. A Suffolk County Police spokesperson said the department could not share additional details about the incident, including where it occurred, in order to protect the victim’s privacy.

Mr. Pesapane was arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on September 30 before Judge G. Ann Spelman and released on his own recognizance. Judge Spelman also issued a temporary restraining order, according to court records. The charges are still pending.

Mr. Pesapane was suspended from the Westhampton Beach Village Police Department three times during an investigation into his role in a 2009 incident that involved another officer’s missing handgun. He and fellow officer Officer Michael Bruetsch, who retired last year, were charged with lying to Suffolk County Internal Affairs Bureau investigators regarding the handgun that went missing from police headquarters.

When reached on Wednesday, Mr. Pesapane directed all questions to his attorney, Craig Fleischer. But when asked about the criminal charge, Mr. Pesapane said: “My comment on the situation is that the complainant has no credibility whatsoever. This is a lie and a falsehood.”

Mr. Fleischer, an attorney with the Hauppauge firm Keahon, Fleischer and Ferrante, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Westhampton Beach Mayor Conrad Teller said he was aware of Mr. Pesapane’s arrest, but he declined to comment further. Westhampton Beach Police Chief Ray Dean declined to comment.
Online records show that Mr. Pesapane was paid $126,440 in 2013.