Former Police Chief James Burke Released From Prison: Reports

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The 54-year-old moved from Pennsylvania prison to a halfway house in New York about 6 months before his sentence was scheduled to end.

NEW YORK, NY - Former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke who was sentenced for assaulting a man and trying to cover it up was released from the federal prison in Pennsylvania earlier this week, according multiple reports.

Burke, 54, of St. James, was charged in 2015 with assaulting Smithtown resident Christopher Loeb who was arrested for stealing a duffel bags with items from Burke's SCPD-issued SUV as well as other police vehicles in 2012.

During the assault, Loeb was handcuffed and chained to an eyebolt fastened to the floor at the Fourth Precinct.

In Jan. 2017 Burke, who was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison, was transferred to the low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.

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Last month he was released from custody and transferred to a halfway house in New York City, Newsday reports.

He was released about 6 months early for good behavior, according to the New York Post. His full sentences was scheduled to be completed in April 2019.

The new facility, also known as a "residential reentry center" is meant to "provide assistance to inmates who are nearing release," according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

"RRCs provide a safe, structured, supervised environment, as well as employment counseling, job placement, financial management assistance, and other programs and services," the website reads. "RRCs help inmates gradually rebuild their ties to the community and facilitate supervising ex-offenders' activities during this readjustment phase."

Burke will be able to leave the facility only through a sign-out procedure for "approved activities."

He will be assisted in finding a job and housing.

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