Long Island detective charged with hate crime after exploding on black cellular service worker, using racial slur
A Long Island detective was charged with a hate crime on Wednesday after he called a phone service worker the n-word and spewed “We don’t want you or your kind in the neighborhood” in a racist tirade, according to officials.
Rockville Centre detective John Murphy, 40, allegedly erupted into a hateful rage after spotting a black cellular service subcontractor inside an SUV on Nov. 3 around 7 p.m. near Sylvan Court and Weeks Avenue in his Manorville neighborhood.
Murphy allegedly stormed over to the 48-year-old worker and seethed: “Get out of here. We don’t want you or your kind in the neighborhood, n—-r,” according to a criminal complaint.
The hate-filled detective then kicked the victim’s SUV and ripped off a light affixed to the top of the vehicle before breaking it into pieces and chucking it at the victim, hitting the left side of his face, the court documents alleged.
Moments before the violent altercation, Murphy — who was off-duty at the time — allegedly asked the victim what he was doing in the neighborhood while identifying himself as law enforcement.
When the worker tried to hand over his ID, Murphy refused to look at it, police said.
Murphy, of Manorville, was slapped with criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.
He ignored reporters’ questions after his court appearance Wednesday.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney slammed Murphy’s alleged bigoted attack.
“The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle,” 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 is due back in court on Dec. 3 and was ordered to stay away from the victim.
The Rockville Centre Police Department suspended Murphy Wednesday morning, according to Newsday.
