111th Community Affairs Officer Arrested On Fraud

A community affairs officer at Baysides 111th Precinct who is known for lending a helping hand is accused of helping himself to a credit card that did not belong to him.
Santo Elardo, 47, allegedly took a credit card from the console of an unlocked car that was parked at a gas station and went on a spending spree June 22, according to the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD). The card belonged to someone headed to a community event in a church, where Elardo had been a disc jockey, said Det. Lt. Lawrence Boyle, commanding officer of the SCPDs Second Squad Detectives. The victim immediately reported the crime to the credit card company, he said.
Later that night, officers with the SCPD arrested Elardo and charged him with grand larceny, a fourth-degree felony, and forgery, a second-degree felony. If convicted, Elardo could spend up to 11 years in prison. Elardo pleaded innocent and is scheduled to appear August 17 in Suffolk County District Court.
Boyle said Elardo used a stolen credit card to buy $498.51 of items at a grocery store, Super Stop & Shop, located at 3126 Jericho Turnpike in East Northport. Boyle said although Elardo used the card three other times at a Best Buy and gas stations and ran up a bill of nearly $1,000, Elardos charges only relate to the grocery store purchases.
"Its unfortunate that somebody would do that for such a small amount of money; throw away a career," Boyle said.
Det. John Sweeney, a spokesman with the New York City Police Department, said Elardo was suspended June 22 due to the pending investigation. Suffolk County notified internal affairs at the NYPD. Before the suspension, the 19-year veteran would have been eligible for retirement in July 2005, Sweeney said. Additionally, the department fires officers who are convicted of felonies, he said.
"Hes looking forward to his day in court to have himself exonerated," said Charles P. DeMartin, Elardos attorney. "These allegations are extremely out of character for Santo."
Lt. Daniel Heffernan of Precinct 111 agreed that the charges did not match the qualities he identified with the hard-working officer who spent his career at the precinct. For the past four years, Elardo has served as a community affairs officer.
As soon as Elardo joined the community affairs department, Sol Soskin began working closely with him. Soskin, a member of Community Board 11, is the president of the Precinct 111 Community Council that serves as a go-between for the police and public. Soskin noted that Elardo was always helpful, even lending his private sound equipment to the council for events and meetings.
"Its hard to really make a judgement," Soskin said of the arrest. "Because any dealings I had with him were on a favorable basis, I saw nothing to indicate that he was doing anything wrong."
DeMartin said Elardo, a married father, is awaiting the court appearance at home, having been released on his own recognizance. Authorities would not reveal Elardos address or hometown.
Albert OLeary, spokesman for the Patrolmens Benevolent Association, said officers can remain suspended without pay for 30 days.