Post by WaTcHeR on Jun 3, 2006 13:48:45 GMT -5
06.02.2006 - RIVERSIDE, N.Y. (AP) _ A police officer accused of collecting $250,000 in disability pay while working as a volunteer firefighter has been acquitted of the charges against him.
Michael Forman, a 14-year veteran of the Suffolk County police force, injured his wrist in the line of duty in April 2003.
Prosecutors said that he stayed active in the Bethpage Volunteer Fire Department while collecting workers' compensation, responding to hundreds of emergency calls and eventually becoming chief in January 2005. According to prosecutors, the 41-year-old Forman claimed he was unable to perform his duties as a police officer, which included driving.
The police department suspended Forman following his arrest last year. He had been charged with grand larceny and fraud.
A criminal court jury deliberated for about three hours on Friday before reaching the verdict.
"Can you imagine this poor guy gets hurt while on duty, then he's going to be in pain his whole life, then they also want to put him in jail?" said Forman's lawyer, Stephen Scaring. "It makes the police department look bad."
Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer expressed disappointment with the verdict.
"We thought we had a very strong case and we're disappointed that the jury disagreed with us," Dormer said in a statement.
Michael Forman, a 14-year veteran of the Suffolk County police force, injured his wrist in the line of duty in April 2003.
Prosecutors said that he stayed active in the Bethpage Volunteer Fire Department while collecting workers' compensation, responding to hundreds of emergency calls and eventually becoming chief in January 2005. According to prosecutors, the 41-year-old Forman claimed he was unable to perform his duties as a police officer, which included driving.
The police department suspended Forman following his arrest last year. He had been charged with grand larceny and fraud.
A criminal court jury deliberated for about three hours on Friday before reaching the verdict.
"Can you imagine this poor guy gets hurt while on duty, then he's going to be in pain his whole life, then they also want to put him in jail?" said Forman's lawyer, Stephen Scaring. "It makes the police department look bad."
Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer expressed disappointment with the verdict.
"We thought we had a very strong case and we're disappointed that the jury disagreed with us," Dormer said in a statement.