A Newsday investigation, amplified this week by other outlets, found that Suffolk County quietly resolved a string of police misconduct cases with settlement deals that let accused officers stay on the job long enough to lock in key pension milestones. The arrangements are now under fire from reform advocates, who say the mix of sealed disciplinary files, confidential settlement terms and payroll decisions raises serious questions about both accountability and what taxpayers are actually funding.
As reported by New York Post, which cited Newsday’s reporting, Suffolk County has struck seven such settlement agreements since 2011. In each, officers admitted only to "general misconduct" while negotiating delayed resignation or retirement dates that lined up with pension eligibility. The Post reported that the continued salaries and overtime collected while the officers remained on the force added up to roughly $7 million tied to the seven cases.
Case That Drew Scrutiny
One high‑profile example highlighted by Newsday involves Officer David Mascarella, whose off‑duty pickup‑truck crash in 2020 left a two‑year‑old with a fractured skull. Newsday reported that investigators at the scene did not secure a blood test after Mascarella refused a preliminary breath test and that another officer later falsely claimed to have administered the PBT. The district attorney said those gaps deprived prosecutors of the evidence they would have needed to determine whether criminal charges were appropriate. Critics have seized on the case as a textbook example of how serious incidents can stall out, even as civil settlements and internal resolutions quietly move ahead. Newsday detailed the crash and the department’s handling of the inquiry.
Other Cases And How The Deals Worked
The Post’s summary of Newsday’s findings describes several other internal cases where officers admitted general misconduct while avoiding detailed public disciplinary records. Allegations in those files ranged from improper license‑plate searches and misuse of police computer systems to exposing an undercover officer or using force on a restrained person. In many instances, the penalty was structured so that the officer would retire or resign only after reaching 20 years of service, the point at which more generous pension benefits kick in. The Post also noted that some officers continued drawing six‑figure paychecks, in a few cases reportedly approaching $270,000, during the period their exit deals were in effect. New York Post reported on this pattern and identified several of the officers named in the underlying coverage.
Taxpayer Costs, Union Response And Legal Implications
Newsday’s broader project shows that Nassau and Suffolk counties have paid more than $30 million to resolve police misconduct claims since 2002, a tally that underscores how settlements and long‑sealed disciplinary records have limited what the public can see about problem officers and how they are disciplined. Newsday compiled those totals and case histories. The Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association has pushed back in public statements and on its website, stressing officers’ contract rights, negotiated retirements and due process protections, and arguing that internal procedures and pension rules heavily influence how these personnel disputes are resolved. Civil‑law specialists quoted in the coverage note that an "admission of general misconduct" in a settlement or administrative context is not the same as a criminal conviction, and that when key investigative steps, such as blood testing after a serious crash, are skipped, it can be difficult to pursue criminal charges even when the harm is severe.
