Off-Duty LI Detective Indicted On Hate Crime-Related Charges: PD

MANORVILLE, NY — An off-duty Village of Rockville Centre police detective was indicted on hate-crime related charges after attacking someone in Manorville, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

John Murphy, 41, of Manorville, was indicted after reportedly attacking a cellphone company employee while using a racial slur and damaging his work vehicle, Tierney said.

According to the investigation, on November 3, 2024, the cellphone company employee was driving around the Manorville area inspecting the nearby cellphone towers to ensure the networks were properly transmitting service, the DA said.

At about 7 p.m., while still working, the cellphone company employee drove through Murphy's neighborhood in his work-issued vehicle, which had a blinking amber light on the roof, Tierney said.

The employee drove around the neighborhood to test the cellphone tower located behind the residential cul-de-sac, and when finished, parked his vehicle at the corner of the street to complete paperwork, the DA said.

Murphy was alerted by a neighbor of the cellphone company employee’s vehicle and, in response, left his home and approached the employee, who was seated in his vehicle, Tierney said. Murphy reportedly questioned the cellphone company employee about his presence on the block, and when the employee tried to show the Murphy his identification, Murphy began to yell at the employee, the DA said.

Murphy is accused of putting his arm inside the employee’s vehicle through the open window, opening the vehicle door, and grabbing the employee’s laptop, the DA said. The employee then grabbed the laptop back and Murphy reportedly slammed the vehicle door shut, telling the employee, in sum and substance, "Get out of here, we don’t want you or your like in the neighborhood," Tierney said, adding that he also used a racial slur toward the employee.

Murphy then reportedly ripped the amber light off of the top of the vehicle and threw it at the employee’s vehicle, breaking the light into pieces, Tierney said. Murphy then kicked the driver's side door of the vehicle, causing damage, the DA said.

The employee was finally able to drive to safety, and Murphy picked up the broken amber light and threw it at the vehicle again, Tierney said. The employee drove around the corner and called 911, the DA said.

Following the investigation, led by the Suffolk County Police Department’s hate crime unit,
Murphy was arrested on November 13, 2024, Tierney said.

On June 3, Murphy was arraigned on an indictment before Supreme Court Justice John
Collins for charges including one count of third-degree criminal mischief, as a hate crime,
a Class D felony; one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, as a hate crime, a Class E felony;
and one count of second-degree aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said.

If convicted of the top count, he faces up to 2 & 1/3 to 7 years in prison, the DA said. He was released on his own recognizance, the DA said.

Murphy is being represented by William Petrillo, who was not immediately available for comment. He is due back in court on July 23.

"The victim in this case was just doing his job, working to improve cellphone service for Suffolk County residents, when the defendant allegedly attacked him and damaged his nvehicle," Tierney said. "Even more troubling is that the defendant is a sworn police officer, responsible for protecting the rights of all citizens. The conduct alleged in this indictment will not be tolerated, regardless of what position a defendant holds."