NYPD Accused of Ticket-Fixing Ring: 5 Other Cases of Police Corruption
Bronx District Attorney, Robert T. Johnson, announced plans that his office will pursue the NYPD ticket-fixing scandal with full force. His office is expected to issue indictments to police officers who had partaken in the scandal on Friday. This comes at a damaging time for a department all ready steeped with controversy
Johnson's office expects to see at least 17 officers, some possibly high ranking, charged with bribery, larceny, perjury and obstruction. These officers are expected surrender to authorities either Thursday night or Friday morning.
The indictments were expected to come for some time.
More than 500 officers have been connected to this scandal. They have also been accused with taking bribes in the form of cash, alcohol and other gifts in order to squash tickets.
The potential indictments are due to the work of the Internal Affairs Bureau detectives looking into Officer José Ramos and his alleged ties to drug dealers.
Investigators recorded Ramos on wiretap talking about fixing tickets. This led to the IAB bugging union officials and other police officer, who were discussing fixing tickets for family and friends, the New York Post reports. In one reported incident, a New York Yankee executive's ticket was squashed because of the efforts of some police officers.
This ticket-fixing scandal can have wider repercussions as well. A case against a suspected crack deal could be dropped, according to the New York Daily News.
While the testimony of from police officers and the drugs they confiscated would usually be enough to convict any drug dealer, the two arresting police officers, Officer Harry Delacruz and Officer Orlando Colon are part of the massive ticket-fixing investigation.
It was also reported that one former assistant district attorney was acquitted of a DWI and another man was acquitted of attempted murder in part because the ticket-fixing scandal tainted the reputation of some police officers.
In recent weeks, the NYPD has had a host of recent scandals, including civil rights violations and a gun running scheme.
Click Start to see five other cases of the worst police corruption.
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