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Former Irondequoit Police Officer sentenced to 5 years

A former Irondequoit Police Officer was sentenced on Thursday to five years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

The sentence handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci against William Rosica is in connection with the cyberstalking that Rosica was convicted of against his ex-girlfriend.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says that between February of 2016 and March of 2017, Rosica subjected the victim to a relentless campaign directed toward threatening and psychologically torturing her.

Authorities say Rosica sent anonymous emails and text messages directing the woman to commit suicide, as well as using his position as a cop to access law enforcement databases and other restricted online systems in order to get information on the woman and her family.

A statement from Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley and Irondequoit Police Chief Richard Tantalo says that they ‘applaud’ the work by the U.S. Attorney’s office, as well as the victim who bravely came forward to confront her attacker.

The statement says that Rosica’s actions do not represent the four dozen sworn officers of the Irondequoit Police Department who work to protect the community from this kind of domestic abuse.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.