Hudson Valley Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty, Resigns

A former police sergeant in the Hudson Valley admitted he pressured a driver to destroy a recording of their traffic stop.

On Friday in Orange County Court, 44-year-old Anthony D’Elia of Tuxedo pleaded guilty to coercion and official misconduct, in connection with a car stop he conducted as a sergeant with the Town of Tuxedo Police Department.

On May 19, 2016, D’Elia stopped a car on Route 17 in Tuxedo. During the traffic stop, he realized the driver was recording their interaction.

D’Elia admitted that he pressured the driver into destroying the recording by telling the motorist the driver would be arrested if the motorist didn’t destroy the memory card which contained the recording.

“Being a police officer in a free society is one of the noblest of professions, as well as one of the most difficult of jobs,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek. “It is always sad when we discover that a police officer has abused his position to commit crimes.”

As part of his guilty pleas, D’Elia resigned as a Town of Tuxedo police officer and won’t be able to be hired as an officer anywhere in New York State. D’Elia stated on the record that he is moving to the Maine prior to sentencing in August.

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