Off-Duty New York City Police Department Officer Indicted for Insurance Fraud

A New York City Police Department officer has been indicted for insurance fraud, falsifying business records and related charges for allegedly filing a false insurance claim stating his vehicle was stolen when the same car was found burned down at an earlier date.

“Insurance fraud victimizes both the insurer and paying customers that get hit with higher premiums,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a press release issued by his office. “That this crime was allegedly committed by a police officer is troublesome because we demand honesty and integrity from all of our law enforcement officials. We intend to hold this defendant accountable and continue to investigate every instance of fraud or misconduct.”

Gonzalez identified the defendant as Police Officer Kirk Peddie of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, a 15-year veteran of the NYPD who was assigned to the 66th Precinct patrol unit at the time of the incident.

He was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an 11-count indictment in which he is charged with third- and fourth-degree insurance fraud, first-degree falsifying business records, third-degree attempted grand larceny and related counts.

Peddie was released without bail and ordered to return to court on October 23, 2019. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count.

According to the investigation, on December 25, 2016, Peddie called 911 to report that his BMW had been stolen. He filed two supporting depositions attesting to the fact that he had last seen and moved the vehicle to a parking spot near his residence on December 22, 2016.

Subsequently, he filed a claim with his insurance company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Company, which required him to submit an additional affidavit of vehicle theft. He again stated in that affidavit that he last saw the vehicle on December 22, 2016.

On December 20, 2016, the FDNY responded to a vehicular fire in East New York involving a 2006 BMW 650i convertible, which was later determined to be registered to Peddie.

On February 15, 2017, Peddie was deposed in regards to his insurance claim and stated that he actually last moved his car on December 8, 2016. When confronted about the change of date, he admitted that he had no explanation for giving the factually impossible date in the above-mentioned documents.

Gonzalez thanked the NYPD and its Internal Affairs Bureau for the assistance in the investigation. The case was investigated by Lieutenant John Orecchia of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Source: The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office

Topics Auto New York Fraud Law Enforcement