In federal court testimony Tuesday, Suffolk County Police Lt. James Hickey described the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office as being part of a culture of intense loyalty, paranoia and intimidation in county law enforcement during former police chief James Burke's tenure.

Hickey took the stand Tuesday in the corruption trial of ex-DA Tom Spota and the county prosecutors' former anti-corruption chief Christopher McPartland. They are accused of helping cover up police misconduct.

"If you cross Tom Spota, Chris McPartland, Jimmy Burke—if you cross one, you cross 'em all," Hickey said. "You've made sworn enemies of the three most powerful men in Suffolk County, and you will face dire consequences."