For corrupt Massachusetts State Police, crime really does pay

If I ever get jammed up for committing some atrocious crime, I ask for no special treatment from the law.

Just treat me like an illegal alien.

But if the cops can’t find it in their black hearts to give me that 100 percent free illegal-alien get-out-of-doing-anything pass with lifelong welfare on top of it, I have a back-up request.

Just treat me like a corrupt Massachusetts state trooper.

I bring this up today in the wake of the federal-court “sentencing” of retired Sgt. Damian Halfkenny, a cop so crooked he needs a corkscrew to get into his trousers in the morning.

For COVID welfare chiseling of $21,220 in loans to a business that never existed, he got… probation.

What would happen to a non-hack who stole $21,200 from the government, especially if in the same year the working person was robbing the feds blind he also pocketed $160,378 from the most corrupt police department in the US?

Your or I would be headed to prison, no doubt about it.

But not only does was this thieving, greed-crazed fraudster with a badge get sentenced to probation, without a single day in prison, he also gets to keep his pension.

Halfkenny is a 54-year-old crooked cop and he gets to pocket $8,257 a month — $99,083 a year. For the rest of his worthless life.

Let me repeat:

He. Stole. While. On. The. Job. And. Still. Gets. To. Keep. His. Six-Figure. Pension.

As everyone knows by now, crooked cops in this state hardly ever lose their kiss in the mail. Michael Proctor is the exception that proves the rule.

But sometimes the kleptocracy that is Massachusetts state government at least goes through the motions of trying to do the right thing.

Not with Damian Halfkenny.

On the day the judge threw the book at him – a comic book – I inquired of the State Retirement Board if any action would be taken to rescind this thief’s obscenely large pension, which he started grabbing 14 months ago at age 53.

What are you going to do about this crooked cop, I asked?

This was the response I got:

“The conviction in question for Mr. Halfkenny is not related to his position and will not go before the Massachusetts State Retirement Board.”

How can this be? Even in Massachusetts?

In his own pre-sentencing memorandum, Halfkenny’s mouthpiece acknowledged:

“Mr. Halfkenny understands that this offense occurred while he was an active member of the Massachusetts State Police and that his position carried significant responsibilities and public trust.”

Yeah, right. That’s why he got to steal tens of thousands of public dollars and then, when he was caught red-handed, cashed out with a golden parachute for life.

In the same year that he was making $160,000 as a crooked cop while robbing US taxpayers of $21,220, Halfkenny was also pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars more flipping properties in the City of Boston.

From the feds’ sentencing memo:

“He sold a piece of real estate for $825,000 (which he had purchased for $360,000) and another piece of real estate for $579,000 (which he had purchased for $439,000). In addition, he bought two new pieces of real estate, for $635,000 and $494,000).”

Rolling in cash after decades of indolently slurping at the public trough, like so many other state cops Sgt. Halfkenny decided to lick the plate – ripping off the COVID-era welfare scam known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

“The intent of the PPP was to help small businesses struggling during COVID to pay their employees,” the feds wrote. “But Mr. Halfkenny was not a business owner and he had no employees. He simply exploited the PPP, obtained taxpayer money he knew he was not entitled to, and spent it on personal expenses.”

Because he knew that there would be no consequences, no penalties whatsoever. Just “restitution” – wink wink nudge nudge.

The cops and politicians here steal and rob to their hearts’ content… and behind that comes the six-figure pension at age 53.

It’s the Massachusetts way. It’s how things work in a one-party state.

Not only did he get to steal with no consequences, but when he retired last year he got another $68,032.34 in “leave/buy back.”

Disgrace, where is thy sting?

Before the sentencing, Halfkenny got letters of support from his fellow cops, including retired Det. Lt. Mario Millett, whose own pension amounts to $138,478 a year, on top of the $119,237.02 in “leave buy back” he pocketed from the taxpayers on his retirement in 2022.

Millionaire Millett says that his dear pal’s “recent experience has understandably been difficult for both him and his family.”

Although the pain is no doubt somewhat assuaged by that $8,257 landing in the criminal cop’s bank account every single month for the rest of his life.

Another retired state cop, John Simard, asserts that “I can say with absolute certainty that Damian is not someone who looks to circumvent the law.”

Yeah, pay no attention to that conviction for stealing $21,200 in welfare funds in the same year he was making at least a half a million bucks.

Sicard’s pension is $6312 a month — $75,744 a year.

Another day, another State Police outrage.

Exit question: Is it possible that Halfkenny was the only Massachusetts state trooper who ripped off one or another of the phony COVID welfare programs?

And what are the odds that any of the other crooked troopers will lose their pensions when they’re lugged?

What are the chances any state cops are ever punished, period. I’ll tell you what those chances are.

Slim, fat, and none.