Briefing on police misconduct claims sought

Members of the Nassau Legislature's Public Safety Committee are requesting a briefing by police Commissioner Thomas Dale into allegations of police misconduct, including claims that multiple cops have been having sex with women while on the clock.

Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) said lawmakers need to know the nature of the allegations -- particularly those that could result in civil actions being taken against the county -- and what is being done to prevent them from occurring again in the future.

"We need to assure the public that everything is being done to investigate these allegations and that appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if need be," he said.

Michael Tedesco, a former Seventh Precinct officer who police say is being investigated for visiting his mistress, Tara Obenauer, while on duty, also is under scrutiny for having relations with a woman in a van that she drove to his assignments, a law enforcement source said.

Police also are looking into the validity of allegations that other police officers had sex with a woman in a van during their shifts, law enforcement sources said.

Legis. Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) said the allegations are "embarrassing" and "raise a lot of concern."

"It would be worthwhile to know what the commissioner has in store for these cases," Ford said. "I think a briefing would do more good than harm."

Department spokesman Kenneth Lack said Dale plans to brief legislators at some point but declined to set a date.

"The commissioner plans to keep the leadership of the legislature as well as the public safety committee briefed on all important departmental matters," Lack said.

Denenberg said the allegations against Tedesco are among the most serious he can recall in his decade in the legislature.

Married with two children, Tedesco retired on April 6 without Dale's permission. He will receive his pension but a source said he is ineligible to receive his termination pay, which includes outstanding personal, sick and vacation time.

Reached by phone Saturday, Tedesco's wife, Sharon, declined to comment on the allegations against her husband.