A Rockville Centre detective is facing a hate crime charge after he allegedly called a phone service worker the n-word during an encounter in the law enforcement officer’s Manorville neighborhood on November 3.
Besides using the racial slur, authorities said John Murphy, 40, also told the victim that they “don’t want you or your kind in the neighborhood,” the New York Post reported. The victim was said to be inside a car when Murphy confronted him.
“Get out of here. We don’t want you or your kind in the neighborhood, n—-r,” Murphy allegedly told the Black cellular service subcontractor, per a criminal complaint.
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Authorities also said Murphy, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, damaged the victim’s vehicle, adding that the victim was struck in the face with a light that the suspect forcefully removed from his SUV.
Prior to the incident, Murphy is said to have told the phone service worker that he was a law enforcement officer and asked the victim why he had come to his neighborhood. Police also said Murphy declined to look at the victim’s ID when he attempted to give it to him.
“The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “To make matters worse, the defendant is a sworn law enforcement officer, responsible for protecting the rights of citizens, rather than violating them, as is alleged here.”
Murphy has since been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment. The law enforcement officer was also suspended in the wake of the incident, Newsday reported.
“I don’t care what your status is in life, and this gentleman happened to be a detective in another police department, but that doesn’t excuse hate,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine also said, per ABC7.
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