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NYPD Officer Accused Of Exposing Himself To Other Officers While On Duty

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - An NYPD officer is accused of "outrageous" acts of lewd behavior.

Prosecutors allege Officer Anthony Avosso, 31, exposed himself repeatedly to other officers while on duty.

The investigation started after a female officer complained last month that Avosso had exposed himself on three different occasions, saying each time it started with normal conversation when suddenly he unzipped his pants.

Four other female NYPD officers have come forward with similar complaints, some dating back to 2016.

In one case, Avosso allegedly exposed himself to a probationary female officer just out of the academy while asking her about her goals in the department. He also allegedly exposed himself to a female officer sitting next to him on the subway, pleasured himself while in a marked police car during an overnight shift. Other incidents were also reported, prosecutors said.

"There is no place for this defendant's alleged outrageous behavior anywhere in our society and especially within our police department," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

Avosso is charged with seven counts of public lewdness and four counts of exposure. He pleaded not guilty Friday and released without bail. He's due back in court in May.

The married father of three has been on the force for nearly a decade. For the past two years, he's been a field training officer in the 60th Precinct's anti-crime unit. Now, he's suspended without pay.

The Brooklyn district attorney's office said several other women also came forward but their accusations were beyond the statute of limitations.

"I'm in shock," said one woman. "You can't even trust nobody."

"That's devastating to know, like I can't believe that would actually happen from one of the people from the law," Lilly Ogbe, of Coney Island, said.

"He's here to protect us. It makes us nervous now," said Denise Leitch. "He should be penalized like any other person."

Avosso made no comment when asked about the allegations by CBS2's Reena Roy.

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