Former Long Island Cop Sentenced For Official Misconduct

A former Hempstead Village police officer was sentenced to three years probation and alcohol counseling on Thursday after he was convicted by a jury of official misconduct in March.

Louis Arcila, 51, of Roslyn Heights, was convicted on March 23 of two counts of official misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child after he had a physical altercation with a woman and her two young children outside of a restaurant in Hempstead in 2015. Two stay-away orders of protection were also issued for the family.

“This defendant abused his authority as a police officer for his own perverse benefit when he acted inappropriately toward a woman in front of her children,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Misconduct cases like these are very serious and my office will vigorously prosecute people who abuse their authority.”

Around 10:30 p.m. on June 28, 2015, Arcila was at El Rancho Catracho, a restaurant in Hempstead, when the woman entered, carrying her 3-year-old son and accompanied by her 10-year-old daughter and her adult nephew. Arcila was off duty and had his police shield clipped to his waist. The family was there to pick up food they had ordered. Arcila approached the woman, with his shield in view, and started asking her why her son was only wearing a shirt and diaper.

The woman left the restaurant and put her son in the back seat of her car. Her daughter also got into the back while her nephew waited for the food. Arcila followed the woman to her car and knocked on the passenger window, indicating for her to lower it. He then threatened to give the woman a ticket, and when she asked why, Arcila said it was because he liked her breasts.

Arcila then opened the passenger door and got into the car, asking the woman if she found him attractive. Both the woman and her daughter testified at the trial that Arcila repeatedly tried inappropriately touch the woman.

Arcila surrendered himself to district attorney investigators on Oct. 29, 2015.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's office