Two weeks ago we wrote about a New York City police officer accused of falsely arresting an African American man in Staten Island and later used a racial slur when bragging about the false arrest to a friend. The officer recently pleaded guilty to federal charges that he violated the falsely arrested man's constitutional rights.

Before the guilty plea was entered, the New York City police officer had been suspended without pay. After the entry of the guilty plea, the officer was immediately fired from the police department. As a part of the officer's plea deal, he promised to never question his termination and to never seek work in law enforcement again. In addition, he faces up to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine. The sentencing hearing has not yet occurred.

In April, the NYPD officer conducted a stop and frisk on a man in Staten Island. The stop and frisk did not reveal a weapon or any contraband and after the incident the man who was stopped complained about his treatment.

After the man voiced his complaint, the officer arrested the man and later completed a police report that falsely alleged the man resisted arrest. The officer later bragged to a friend over the phone about the arrest and used a racial slur in his description. Officers from the NYPD's internal affairs department and FBI investigators intercepted the phone call.

One U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York who was a part of the case said the officer "criminally abused" his authority and the trust given to him by the public. The U.S. Attorney also said, "Hiding behind his badge, he subjected his victim to false arrest, imprisonment and threats of violence."

Source: Reuters, "New York police officer pleads guilty in civil rights case," Jonathan Allen, Jan. 24, 2012