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Rikers Island Supervisor Groped Female Correction Officer, Officials Say

By Ben Fractenberg | September 30, 2016 12:23pm | Updated on October 2, 2016 12:33pm
 Timothy Cowen, 33, was arrested Friday and charged with groping a female employee in January 2016, officials said.
Timothy Cowen, 33, was arrested Friday and charged with groping a female employee in January 2016, officials said.
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Department of Investigation

THE BRONX — A Rikers Island supervisor was arrested Friday morning after sexually abusing a female correction officer while she worked in administrative offices at the jail, authorities said.

Captain Timothy Cowen, 33, who has worked with the Department of Correction since 2007, grabbed the female officer while she looked for a log book on Jan. 18, 2016, prosecutors said. When she pushed his hand away and told him to stop, Cowen pulled her toward him. She immediately reported the incident.

“As charged, this DOC Captain abused his power and authority as a New York City law enforcement officer when he sexually accosted a junior officer,” said Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark Peters in a statement.  

“We will not tolerate lawlessness on Rikers Island. As the City's independent Inspector General, DOI takes these allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and its Inspector General for DOC is focused on this important and concerning issue."

Cowen, who lives in Islandia on Long Island, and makes an annual base salary of $81,879, was reassigned to another DOC facility after the incident was reported in January.

The DOI investigated the allegation, and Cowen was charged Friday with forcible touching and sexual abuse, prosecutors said. He has now been suspended without pay, officials said.

“{Department of Correction] Commissioner Ponte has zero tolerance for sexual abuse and assaults on staff and inmates," a spokeswoman for the DOC said. "The vast majority of our officers carry out their duties with care and integrity, and we are taking many steps to ensure that all staff adhere to the highest professionalism.”

In a separate incident, CO Jose Cosme, 36, was charged with rape in August after he forced a female inmate to sleep with him on Nov. 30, 2015, according to the Bronx District Attorney.

He was indicted for first-degree rape charges and is due back in court in December. 

Cowen was expected to be arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court Friday, a DOI spokeswoman said.