Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that a New York State Police Trooper, responsible for patrolling the Sprain Brook and Taconic State Parkways in Westchester County, was arrested and charged with issuing more than 30 falsified traffic tickets and supporting depositions to multiple individuals, who were never subjected to a traffic stop, including one person who died prior to the issuance of the tickets.
DA Rocah said: “Integrity in law enforcement is paramount. I commend our partners at the New York State Police for referring this case to our Office and demonstrating their commitment to accountability and transparency.”
Edward Longo, 34, of Yorktown, is charged with 32 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a felony, and eight counts of Official Misconduct, a misdemeanor. In collaboration with the New York State Police, the Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Integrity Bureau of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation and arrested the defendant on January 31, 2023.
The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned in Mount Pleasant Justice Court on February 16, 2023.
The defendant, while on duty and employed as a New York State Police Trooper, allegedly issued 32 tickets and supporting depositions containing false statements and false information without having performed a traffic stop or observing a traffic violation on eight different occasions between May 10, 2021 and October 2, 2022. The falsified tickets and supporting depositions were then submitted to the New York State Police Troop K Hawthorne barracks in Mount Pleasant, where the defendant was assigned.
The New York State Police placed the defendant on administrative leave in November 2022. The case is being prosecuted by Public Integrity and Law Enforcement Integrity Bureau Assistant District Attorney Renee Hassel, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jennifer Sculco, both of the Trials and Investigations Division.
The charges against the defendant are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.