January 20, 2008
Bad Cops Traffic in Drugs, in League With Dealer
Two sergeants and a detective were arrested Friday after one was caught on tape providing information on surveillance vehicles to a drug dealer and the other two were caught supplying drugs and cash that they'd stolen from a supposed junkie and then returning it in exchange for information. Sgt. Roosevelt Green was a 12-year-veteran of the NYPD working out of the 62nd Precinct in Brooklyn, who was using a police laptop to run license plate IDs for drug dealer Frank (Big Banana) Wilson. The DEA was tapping Wilson's phone and overheard him discussing federal surveillance vehicles that Wilson suspected were rival dealers. Roosevelt, who was socially acquainted with Wilson (they worked out and played basketball together) accepted athletic gear and clothing in trade for the information. He could face up to ten years in prison.
Separately, Sgt. Michael Arenella and Det. Jerry Bowens were arrested for stealing $40 and two bags of crack cocaine from a junkie and then returning the contraband in payment for information. Unfortunately for the two cops, the drug addict in question was actually an undercover police officer investigating the misuse of contraband by members of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Unit. Bullseye! Late last year, Det. Sean Johnstone of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Unit inadvertently recorded himself discussing a number of bags of cocaine that he might have retained for himself after seizing it in a raid.




Dear Gothamist, Please also note: the sky Is blue.
Stealing drugs and money from a junkie and then giving it back in exchange for information on presumably more important criminals may be illegal, but it seems anything but wrong. Sounds like some bureaucrats weren't happy about them circumventing the red tape. They should stick with busting the cops who keep the contraband for themselves and let these good "bad" cops operate under the radar.
Would the author &/or editor check the first sentence. It states that someone was found guilty of a crime. Is that so? Do the linked underlying stories refer to anyone being convicted? If so, I missed it and the lede needs to be clearer; if not the lede is false.
Sorry Daniel. Being caught on tape committing a crime is a far cry from being convicted in a court of law. I got ahead of myself there. It's been corrected.
Legalize it!