May 09, 2011

Termination of police officer for falsifying official reports affirmed

Termination of police officer for falsifying official reports affirmed

Sweeney v Safir, App. Div., 267 AD2d 99


New York City police officer Kevin Sweeney lost his job after being found guilty of giving false testimony and falsifying official reports.


Sweeney appealed only to have Appellate Division affirm the findings of the police commissioner as to guilt and the penalty imposed -- dismissal.


The commissioner found that Sweeny was guilty of “knowingly” making false statements in police reports and in his testimony before a Grand Jury.


Sweeny testified that “he was the victim of a gunpoint robbery of his fiancĂ©e’s car when, in fact, the car was simply stolen from the street when [Sweeney] left it double-parked with the keys in the ignition and the engine running.”