www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/nassau-cop-dolores-sharpe-my-own-department-falsely-arrested-me-1.6548439Nassau cop Dolores Sharpe: My own department falsely arrested me
December 5, 2013 by SID CASSESE / sid.cassese@newsday.com
An off-duty Nassau County police officer is claiming that she was illegally arrested and mistreated by two fellow members of the force on Black Friday.
Officer Dolores Sharpe, a 19-year veteran of the department, said she has been suspended without pay and relieved of her weapon after she was issued a desk appearance ticket for misdemeanor resisting arrest.
"I have been wrongfully charged and falsely arrested, requiring me to defend [myself] against allegations that are based on prejudice coming from my own police force," Sharpe read from a statement. "I want to be restored back to my job. I want my pay restored and I want these charges dropped.
"Most of all, I want to help restore the public's confidence in law enforcement."
Sharpe, of Jamaica, Queens, is black; the two officers are white. She serves in the department's Applicant Investigation Unit.
Departmental spokesman Insp. Kenneth Lack said the issue is under an internal affairs investigation, and, "therefore, I can't say anything else about it."
Katie Grilli-Robles, a spokeswoman for County Executive Edward Mangano, said, "We are prohibited from commenting on an ongoing investigation."
Sharpe spoke Thursday at a news conference at the office of her lawyer, Frederick K. Brewington.
Brewington said Sharpe went to shop at a store in West Hempstead, "looking for weather stripping."
After Sharpe got a parking spot for which she had waited a few minutes, Police Officer Charles Volpe drove up to her in a marked car and berated her, claiming she had interfered with an investigation by blocking his view, Brewington said.
"She told him she was with the department and asked if she could help," Brewington said. "He cursed her, and she went in the store."
"About seven minutes later, she came out of the store, and he again abused her with words, telling her to get out of the car," Brewington said. "She said she would not and he should call a supervisor immediately."
The officer didn't call a supervisor, Brewington said, and Sharpe drove away.
Sharpe was pulled over about two blocks away, and she would not get out of the car until a supervisor arrived, her lawyer said.
Officer Victor Gladitz arrived, talked to Volpe, demanded Sharpe's identification, and arrested her, Brewington said.
Brewington said a sergeant came after Sharpe was arrested and ordered the handcuffs taken off her. She asked if she could leave and he said that she was under arrest.
Sharpe was taken to the Fourth Precinct, where she remained for about three hours before being released on an appearance ticket for Jan. 9.
Sharpe "was immediately suspended and relieved of her weapon," Brewington said.
Former NYPD Officer Dennis Jones of the Law Enforcement Alliance, which advocates for police officers, said his group is offering $500 "to anybody who may have videotaped the incident."
With William Murphy
