Ex-Police Chief James Burke To Be Released From Prison Thursday

SMITHTOWN, NY - Four years after his arrest, former Suffolk police chief James Burke is set to complete his federal prison sentence on Thursday.

Burke, 54, of St. James, was charged in 2015 with assaulting Smithtown resident Christopher Loeb who was arrested for stealing a duffel bag with items from Burke's SCPD-issued SUV as well as other police vehicles in 2012.

During the assault, Loeb was handcuffed and chained to an eyebolt fastened to the floor at the Fourth Precinct.

In Jan. 2017 Burke, who was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison, was transferred to the low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.

Last November, he was released from custody and supposed to be transferred to a halfway house in New York City, but instead spent the rest of his sentence on house arrest, Newsday reports.

He was released about 6 months early for good behavior, according to the New York Post. His full sentence is scheduled to be completed on April 11.

According to a Newsday report, Burke's release does include several conditions including:

• 3 years of supervised release
• regular check ins with federal probation officers
• giving authorities access to monthly statements of his income and expenses as well as access to search his home, car and computers.
• Burke cannot work in any type of law enforcement job
• he cannot have any firearms
• he cannot associate with convicted felons without permission of probation officers
  

Click here to read the full article.

Last month, Loeb was arrested in Islandia after he intentionally struck a police vehicle with an officer inside in Ridge, Suffolk police said.

More on James Burke:

• Former Police Chief James Burke Released From Prison: Reports
• Former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke to be Transferred to Pennsylvania Prison: Report
• Former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke Sentenced to Federal Prison
• Former Suffolk Police Chief Accused of Assault, Covering up Federal Investigation