The Sea Gate blues
COURIER LIFE, FEB. 28-MAR. 5, 2020 3
Sea Gater’s allege corruption,
racism at local ‘police’ department
BY ROSE ADAMS
Residents of a southern
Brooklyn gated community
are calling for
the chief of their private
“police” department to resign
after years of promoting
nepotism and racism
within the department,
according to several former
members and community
residents.
Chief Jeffrey Fortunato
— who’s led the Sea
Gate Police Department
since 2008 — has allowed
offi cers to distribute illegitimate
parking placards,
ignore 911 calls,
and bully anyone who
speaks out against the
corruption, several former
members told the
Brooklyn Paper.
“It’s run by corrupt liars,”
said Curtis Rogers, a
Sea Gate police offi cer who
said the leadership has harassed
him for speaking
freely about the rampant
bullying. “There’s prejudice,
nepotism, favoritism
— and those are some of
their good qualities.”
The Sea Gate Police
Department — a private
law enforcement agency
funded by the community
on the Coney Island peninsula
— draws many retired
NYPD offi cers and
young locals seeking an
easy patrol job, offi cers
said. The agency operates
Continued on Page 22
Photo by Derrick Watterson
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