Surveillance Video Promises "NYPD Corruption At Its Best"

A YouTube video titled "NYPD corruption at its best," depicts undercover NYPD officers stuffing cash in their pockets during a raid at embattled Staten Island bar "Beer Goggles" (MySpace). The surveillance tape was recorded back in November 2007 when cops busted the bar for promoting gambling; three employees were arrested but the charges were eventually dropped.

In the video, (see below), the officers are shown smashing a poker video game, counting cash on the bar, and putting it into their pockets. The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau investigated Sergeant William Lewis, a 24-year veteran, after the bar's landlord accused him of alerting Beer Goggles to the raid. After a five month investigation, he was suspended and charged with corruption last March.

Several cops from the raiding party testified against Lewis, and his lawyers introduced the surveillance tape to impeach the credibility of the raiders' testimony. But according to the Post, no "official determination has been made as to whether cops were simply doing their jobs," when they pocketed the money. $700 of vouchered cash was later returned to bar owner Chris Shaffer.

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By John Del Signore in News on February 2, 2009 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Craig

Sorry people - there is nothing wrong here - once again you allow the book to be judged by the cover. This is the defendants tape...and yes the officers put the money in their pocket. They didn't keep the money - oh, I'm a retired cop, never took a penny that wasn't mine - but when I made arrests like this the money was secured in my pocket to be vouchered at the precinct. Good try - now go look for more UFO's!

billybob

This reminds me of that line from Ocean's Eleven where Julia Roberts says to Andy Garcia,"You of all people should know, the cameras are always watching" Unfortunately this isn't make believe, these are real, truly retarded NYPD officers.

Future Taliban

I was wrong, Americans aren't war criminals. You're just plain CRIMINALS ..PERIOD.

Enjoy.

whitecastlerock

that a pretty slammin myspace page they have set up. Love the "friends" of this dump too.

sj

OK it certainly LOOKS bad but allow me to play devil's advocate: does anyone have any proof that the cash seized was not in fact turned in as evidence when the cops got back to the precinct? While pocketing the cash is generally a bad idea, if all the cash was then vouchered as evidence, then there was no crime.

Now, if I was seizing cash, here's what I'd do to prevent the appearance of impropriety: count out the cash and then have a colleague make his/her own count. If my count and his/her count agree, then that amount is noted. If not, then we both recount and see who screwed up the count. After the cash is counted, I'd put it in an envelope or evidence bag (NOT my pocket) and seal it. A receipt would be left for the bar owner indicating how much cash was seized and the cash would be turned in as evidence.

jaycjay

In fact, that's pretty much what's supposed to be done. Even if it is the fact that eventually all the money was "re-united" and vouchered, clearly they violated procedure.

Craig

Sorry Jay - it is not against the department procedure - look under the Patrol Guide under arrest and voouchering procedures. The money may it be for safekeeping or evidence is to be secured. But you would know that since you stated they violated department procedures - yes, I am a retired NYPD MOS as well - but you would know what that means, right?

Rocknrope

The Vic Mackey School of Law Enforcement.

MT

Who knew Orwell's idea of Big Brother would come to fruition with The People being Big Brother?

kane

Except in Big Brother, you got severely punished for the smallest "infraction." Here we get tape of them doing bad things, but nothing (or very little) will come of it.

Wza

haha once again...not shocked at all!

They'll get a suspension or something small and be back at it within a month.

apikores

just the kind of CPR (cockiness, presumptiousness, and lack of respect) nyc citizens have come to expect from their police force, especially if they make under 100,000 a year. at least they didn't sodomize the bartender with a broken-off plunger handle or pump him full of bullets after they took the dirty money.

anyway i dont even know what the point of prosecuting this is...the guy's going to get off with a slap on the wrist just like every Sus domestica ssp. newyorkia who does something wrong.