James Hickey
Lieutenant James Hickey
James Hickey is a former Suffolk County Police Department lieutenant who became a central figure in a major public corruption scandal involving the assault of a suspect and an extensive cover-up by top law enforcement officials in Suffolk County, New York
James Hickey, the former Suffolk County police lieutenant who testified against ex-Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota and his top aide at their corruption trial, was sentenced Friday to one year of probation for his role in conspiring to obstruct the federal investigation into former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke’s assault of a handcuffed prisoner.
Lieutenant James Hickey was the commanding officer of the department’s criminal intelligence division.
Hickey testified that he was part of an “inner circle” with Spota, Burke, McPartland and William Madigan, the Chief of Detectives.
James Hickey
James Hickey Former Suffolk County police lieutenant
James Hickey is a former lieutenant in the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) who played a central role in a significant public corruption scandal
James Hickey is a former Suffolk County Police Department lieutenant who became a central figure in a major public corruption scandal involving the assault of a suspect and an extensive cover-up by top law enforcement officials in Suffolk County, New York
Career Overview
Hickey served as the commanding officer of the SCPD’s Criminal Intelligence Division, an elite unit often referred to as the “Palace Guards.” In this capacity, he was part of an “inner circle” that included Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, Chief of the Government Corruption Bureau Christopher McPartland, and Police Chief James Burke. This group orchestrated a cover-up following the December 2012 assault of Christopher Loeb, a handcuffed prisoner who had stolen a duffel bag from Burke’s department-issued vehicle. The bag contained items such as Burke’s gun belt, ammunition, cigars, sex toys, pornography, and a bottle of Viagra.
Role in the Suffolk County Corruption Scandal
As the commanding officer of the department’s Criminal Intelligence Division, Hickey was part of an “inner circle” that included Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, Chief of the Government Corruption Bureau Christopher McPartland, and Police Chief James Burke. This group orchestrated a cover-up following the December 2012 assault of Christopher Loeb, a handcuffed prisoner who had stolen a duffel bag from Burke’s department-issued vehicle. The bag contained items such as Burke’s gun belt, ammunition, cigars, sex toys, pornography, and a bottle of Viagra.
After Loeb’s arrest, he was taken to the Fourth Precinct, where he was assaulted by Burke and other officers while handcuffed and shackled.Hickey played a role in the subsequent cover-up by ensuring that detectives involved remained silent and adhered to a fabricated narrative.He testified that he was instructed by McPartland to “keep the guys quiet and tight” to protect Burke from legal repercussions.
Legal Proceedings and Testimony
In 2016, Hickey pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to obstruct justice for his involvement in the cover-up. As part of a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors, he became the government’s star witness in the trials against Spota and McPartland. Hickey’s testimony provided detailed accounts of the efforts to suppress information about the assault and the intimidation tactics used against potential witnesses.
During the trial, Hickey admitted to participating in meetings where strategies were devised to mislead investigators and the public.He also acknowledged his role in coaching detectives to provide false testimony during suppression hearings related to Loeb’s case.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Due to his cooperation with authorities, Hickey was sentenced in 2020 to one year of probation for his role in the conspiracy. His testimony was instrumental in the convictions of Spota and McPartland, who were each sentenced to five years in federal prison for their roles in the obstruction of justice and witness tampering schemes.
The scandal highlighted systemic issues within Suffolk County’s law enforcement agencies and led to increased scrutiny and calls for reform. Hickey’s involvement, both in the cover-up and as a cooperating witness, underscores the complexities of accountability within law enforcement hierarchies.
James Hickey
James Hickey: Career and Legal Timeline
James Hickey Timeline:
1990s–2010s
- James Hickey rose through the ranks of the Suffolk County Police Department.
- Eventually became Commanding Officer of the Criminal Intelligence Division, an elite unit sometimes referred to as the “Palace Guards.”
- Worked closely with Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke, District Attorney Thomas Spota, and Government Corruption Bureau Chief Christopher McPartland.
December 14, 2012 – Christopher Loeb Assaulted
- Christopher Loeb was arrested after stealing a duffel bag from James Burke’s police-issued vehicle.
- The bag contained embarrassing personal items belonging to Burke (pornography, sex toys, Viagra, etc.).
- While handcuffed and in custody at the Fourth Precinct, Loeb was assaulted by Burke and other officers.
Late December 2012 – Early 2013 – Cover-Up Begins
- Hickey is ordered by McPartland to “keep the guys quiet and tight.”
- Participates in meetings to create a false narrative about Loeb’s arrest and treatment.
June 2013 – FBI Issues Grand Jury Subpoenas
- Subpoenas served to multiple SCPD officers by the FBI.
- Hickey is tasked with debriefing officers to learn who cooperated with the feds.
- The pressure campaign works — no SCPD officers cooperate with federal investigators.
December 2013 – Initial Federal Investigation Closes
- Due to lack of cooperation and obstruction, the FBI investigation stalls.
2015 – FBI Investigation Reignited
- Burke is indicted and pleads guilty in 2016 to assault and conspiracy.
- The broader investigation into Spota, McPartland, and Hickey gains momentum.
2016 – James Hickey Pleads Guilty
- Hickey pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
- Enters into a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors.
- Becomes star witness against Spota and McPartland.
2019–2020 – Testifies Against Spota and McPartland
- Hickey testifies in federal court, detailing:
- Cover-up planning
- Coaching detectives to lie
- Intimidation of officers to prevent cooperation
August 10, 2020 – Sentencing
- Hickey is sentenced to 1 year of probation, in recognition of his cooperation.
- Prosecutors acknowledge that without Hickey’s testimony, convictions of Spota and McPartland may not have been possible.
June 2021 – Aftermath
- Spota and McPartland are each sentenced to 5 years in federal prison.
- The scandal results in major scrutiny and calls for reform in Suffolk County law enforcement.
Records
Corruption
District Attorney Spota Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Police Corruption
District Attorney Thomas J. Spota and Government Corruption Bureau Chief Christopher McPartland Convicted of Obstructing a Federal Civil Rights Investigation
1988, 1992 and 1996 hiring exam scandal.
Involved tests that awarded points for answers that matched profiles of ideal officers and allegations that senior staff who had answers ran a prep school. Hundreds of 37,000 applicants were found to have falsely answered questions in order to match profiles of ideal officers.
A grand jury indicted a Sergeant who taught a prep course for using stolen profile information to coach more than 700 applicants. A Lieutenant was indicted for destroying evidence of test cheating sought by the District Attorney’s Office. That Lieutenant ultimately retired and is now a practicing attorney on Long Island.
A Deputy Inspector admitted that he had answers to the 1996 test and faced departmental charges for coaching the sons of friends in the department for the 1988 test. Ultimately 55 officers averted dismissal. Then-Chief Gallagher offered: “I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.” Pursuant to an agreement negotiated by County attorneys, the officers and the PBA, three officers received six-month suspensions, 19 received shorter suspensions – some as little as two days, and ten were exonerated. A retired detective and spokesman for the Guardians, a fraternal organization of black officers, noted “It’s kind of strange that a lot of the names people were expecting on that list weren’t there,” saying that he believed that senior officers were protecting friends and family.
December 2007 Supreme Court Vacated Conviction of Martin Tankleff – DA Spota wrongfully convicted a 17-year-old.
The NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division Second Department unanimously vacated the conviction of Martin Tankleff for the 1988 murder of his parents and ordered his case back to Suffolk County for a retrial “to be conducted with all convenient speed,” stating “It is abhorrent to our sense of justice and fair play to countenance the possibility that someone innocent of a crime may be incarcerated or otherwise punished for a crime which he or she did not commit.”
A member of Tom Spota’s law firm is reported to have represented Seymour Tankleff’s business partner in the late 1980s in a matter related to the sale of cocaine out of the store. A baking supplies wholesaler is also reported to have testified in 2004 that he had frequently observed Detective James McReady and Seymour Tankleff’s business partner together in the store in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Tankleff ultimately spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He graduated Touro Law Center in 2014 and passed the New York State bar exam in 2017.
In April 2018, Tankleff reached a settlement with Suffolk County for $10 million.
2012 Chief of Police dismantles Task Force, Detective John Olivia files a complaint with the FBI and speaks to the press.
Burke, Spota, McPartland target Oliva conspried togetther in one of the meetings to target John Oliva ” because he had become an enemy of theirs and was suspected of revealing embarrassing information about them to the press” DA Spotta applied for a wiretap on Oliva’s phone, under the ruse of “officer safety,” and it was approved by a judge.
Following a four-month wiretap investigation, Oliva was charged by way of a Superior Court Information with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony; Computer Trespass, a class E felony; and Official Misconduct, a
class A misdemeanor.
Sept. 9, 2014 John Olivia pleaded guilty on to Official Misconduct and was sentenced to a conditional discharge.
February 26, 2016 James Burke pleaded guilty to violating Christopher Loeb’s civil rights and conspiracy relating to efforts to conceal relevant evidence. He received a sentence of 46 months in federal prison.
October 25, 2017 FBI agents arrested Spota and McPartland on charges including witness tampering and deprivation of civil rights. Spota resigned his office in November.
2018 District Attorney Sini immediately upon his taking office in 2018, the CIB aims to achieve and ensure justice by investigating claims of innocence, remedying identified wrongful convictions, and providing proactive support and recommendations to the Office to prevent wrongful convictions.
December 17, 2019 After a six-week trial, a federal trial jury convicted former District Attorney Thomas J. Spota and former Government Corruption Bureau Chief Christopher McPartland of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and obstruct an official proceeding, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and being accessories after-the-fact to former Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Chief of Department James Burke’s deprivation of a prisoner’s civil rights.
August 2021, Oliva, through counsel, submitted an application to the CIB for a review of his case. As detailed in the affirmation filed with the Court today, the investigation found that Oliva’s claims were substantiated. Overturned
his Conviction.
2022 – Suffolk County has agreed to pay $1.5 million to a former Suffolk police detective whose conviction for leaking information to a Newsday reporter wasoverturned.
Thomas Spota and James Burke
Thomas Spota was the Suffolk County District Attorney. He was elected in 2001 and held that position until the end of 2017. (Tr. 2405–07.) Christopher McPartland worked with Spota at the District Attorney’s Office until December 2017. During the events in question, McPartland was the Chief of the Government Corruption Bureau and the Investigations Division.. Documents here
2012 – How it Strated
December 2012 Man Broke into Burke’s SUV
Man who broke into his SUV in 2012 and made off with a gun belt, handcuffs, ammunition, a box of cigars, a humidor and a canvas bag that contained, among other items, sex toys and video pornography.
Loeb was attacked after being arrested at his mother’s home in Smithtown, New York, in December 2012 on a variety of parole violations.
During a search there, police found a cache of stolen merchandise, including Burke’s duffel bag, which contained his gun belt, several magazines of ammunition, a box of cigars, a humidor, and a canvas bag with toiletries, clothing, sex toys and pornographic videos. Burke punched and kicked Loeb in the head and body after his arrest, as revenge when Loeb called him a “pervert” during a police interrogation.
During the attack, Loeb was handcuffed and chained to an eyebolt fastened to the floor. Burke also threatened to kill Loeb with a tainted heroin overdose.
Burke along with Spota then masterminded a years-long cover-up of the assault and pressured detectives to keep it quiet when federal authorities began investigating.
“During his tenure as the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Suffolk County Police Department, James Burke considered himself untouchable,” United States Attorney Robert Capers said in a statement. “He abused his authority by brazenly assaulting a handcuffed prisoner, he pressured subordinates to lie to cover up his criminal acts, and he attempted to thwart the civil rights investigation into his conduct
About James Burke
2021 – Suffolk County DA Thomas J. Spota were to five years in prison.
ormer Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota and Christopher McPartland, the former Chief of Investigations and Chief of the Government Corruption Bureau of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO), were each sentenced today by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack, to five years in prison. Additionally, Spota was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
The sentences stem from the defendants’ December 17, 2019 convictions, following a six-week federal jury trial, on all four counts of the Indictment; specifically, of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and obstruct an official proceeding, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and being accessories after-the-fact to former Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Chief of Department James Burke’s deprivation of a prisoner’s civil rights.