Drug arrests by NYPD have skyrocketed.
The NYPD during an operation. Creative Commons

Federal authorities arrested a New York City Police Department detective and two New York firefighters and 12 other men on federal charges related to operating an illegal gambling ring on Staten Island.

The ring uncovered by the NYPD's Internal Affairs bureau and the FBI also netted a retired police sergeant and a retired firefighter.

Detective Richard Palase, 46, and firefighters Michael Bergen, 35 and Gerald Parsons, 41, are charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gamnling business and illegal gambling, according the indictment unsealed in Brooklyn federal court.

According to court documents, customers were notified by text message about game locations.

Court New York Supreme court Fbi