Retired Police Officer Convicted on 75 Counts of Official Misconduct; Forfeits $195K Termination Package
Mineola, NY - May 12, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a retired Nassau County police officer pleaded guilty and was sentenced on charges that he lied about his work activity to cover up dozens of hours spent at two women’s homes when he was on duty.
Michael Tedesco, 45, pleaded guilty today before Nassau County Court Judge William Donnino to 75 counts of Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor). Tedesco, who was required to forfeit his $194,847.88 termination package, was also sentenced to 100 hours community service and restitution \of $3,739.29 for 67 hours of time theft.
“This sentence is a win for Nassau County taxpayers who paid thousands of dollars in wages to a police officer who failed to serve the public he swore to protect,” DA Rice said. “Instead of remaining at his post to respond to any emergency, this defendant deceived his fellow officers and the public in order to engage in personal relationships while on duty. I would like to thank the Nassau County Police Department for its efforts to help ensure that Mr. Tedesco be held accountable for this breach of the public’s trust.”
DA Rice said from 2010 to 2012, Tedesco would spend a considerable amount of on-duty time at two women’s houses while on duty, according to GPS records.
Tedesco intentionally failed to update the NCPD as to his availability through the computer in his police vehicle, as is required. Both women lived a significant distance from Tedesco's patrol sector in the Seaford/Massapequa area, and he would spend up to six hours at their homes during his shift. Tedesco would even linger at their homes for an extended period of time before leaving to respond to calls that included alarms, domestic disturbances, and even a report of a possible cardiac arrest.
On other occasions, Tedesco intentionally falsified data in the NCPD communications system to make it appear that he was responding to a call, even though GPS records show that he remained at a woman’s home. This is especially dangerous as other units would not be sent to a call because dispatchers believed that Tedesco was en route, DA Rice said.
The Nassau County Police Department Internal Affairs Unit began an investigation into Tedesco’s conduct when a neighbor reported seeing his police cruiser parked in a woman’s driveway for hours on a regular basis. Tedesco retired on April 6, 2012.
Assistant District Attorney Jed Painter of DA Rice’s Public Corruption Bureau is prosecuting the case. Tedesco is represented by Bruce Barket, Esq.