"When caught at a crossroads between right and wrong, Burke took a shortcut on the path to justice," Rodriguez stated.
On December 14, 2012, Burke allegedly "punched and kicked" a suspect Christopher Loeb, who was detained for questioning, according to prosecutors.
Loeb was accused of breaking into Burke’s vehicle several months prior and stealing personal belongings from the vehicle that were later recovered at his home.
The US Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Burke as well as others pressured the detectives who witnessed the assault to conceal the event.
"One of those detectives allegedly testified falsely under oath… denying that Loeb had been assaulted," the statement added.
Burke resigned from the Suffolk County Police Department in October 2015. He was charged with conspiracy to obstruct a federal civil rights investigation as well as assaulting and violating the civil rights of a detained person.
Suffolk County is located approximately 60 miles east of New York City.
