Farmingville, NY  2023-08-22

James Burke, the disgraced ex-Suffolk County police chief known for mishandling the Gilgo Beach murder probe and serving prison time for beating a crook who stole his personal items, was arrested on August 1, 2024, for soliciting sex in a Long Island park. Burke was apprehended by park rangers in the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Farmingville after he solicited sexual acts from a plainclothes ranger. Despite his attempts to evade arrest by identifying himself and highlighting the potential public humiliation, he was charged with offering a sex act, public lewdness, indecent exposure, and criminal solicitation. Burke was later released with a summons and is scheduled to appear in court on September 11, 2024. This incident adds to Burke's tarnished reputation, which includes a history of drug use, involvement with sex workers, and obstruction of justice in the Gilgo Beach case.

Illegal Activities

• soliciting a prostitute
• offering a sex act
• public lewdness
• indecent exposure
• criminal solicitation