Skip to main content

Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #607)
Drug War Issues

The drug war corrodes the integrity of law enforcement in multiple ways, as we see this week: Testilying, sexual extortion, thievery, and the usual just plain old corrupt practices. Let's get to it:

hands in the cash
In Atlanta, federal prosecutors recently dropped charges accusing a felon of possessing a handgun after a US magistrate testimony from the Atlanta narcotics squad "less than candid." Members of the Atlanta police Red Dog drug unit testified that they pulled the man over after driving past his car and smelling marijuana. They said after the stop that they found a gun in the car. But US Magistrate Linda Walker suppressed the evidence, saying she could not believe the officers had actually smelled marijuana coming from the passing vehicle and thus had no legal reason to stop his vehicle. That's what's known as testilying.

In Medina, Washington, a Medina police officer was arrested October 29 for having sex with a woman he arrested in return for arranging to get her marijuana possession charges dropped. Officer Ismael Garcia Ramirez is charged with official misconduct in the incident, which began when he pulled over the woman for driving on a suspended license. Garcia Ramirez then found marijuana in the car and said he arranged to meet with the woman later for sex. He promised to have her charged dropped, prosecutors said. The woman said the sex was not consensual.

In Lawrenceville, Georgia, two former Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office narcotics investigators were arrested for unrelated offenses October 29. Major David Butler, head of the narcotics and vice units until he resigned under pressure earlier this year, is charged with using a county credit card to buy unspecified items at an adult novelty store and to pay for a motel room. He is also charged with stealing $4,000 from the department's dope buy cash stash. He's out on $20,000 bail. Former narc Vennie Harden is charged with three counts of first-degree forgery and one count of violation of oath of office for forging a supervisor's name on a form authorizing payment of county funds between February and April of this year. He's out on $11,800 bail.

In Philadelphia, a former Philadelphia police officer was hit with more federal charges Wednesday. He had earlier been charged in an alleged violent plot to steal $1.5 million from a cocaine dealer. Former officer Alhinde Weems, 34, was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to commit robbery, drug distribution, and more. According to prosecutors, Weems twice distributed crack cocaine between December 2008 and January 2009, and attempted to peddle a kilogram of cocaine. Weems has behind bars since March, when he was charged in a plot to dress as a detective, enter a drug dealer's home, rob him, and shoot him if necessary. He is being held without bail.

In Miami, a former Miami Dade police officer was sentenced last Friday to two years in federal prison for participating in a drug smuggling conspiracy that was actually an FBI sting. Former officer Jorge Delgado, 31, admitted using his patrol car to protect what he thought was a shipment of Ecstasy in exchange for $2500. He pleaded guilty in July to aiding and abetting an attempt to possess Ecstasy with the intent to distribute. He could have gotten up to 20 years.

In Brownsville, Texas, a former US Customs and Border Protection officer was sentenced Wednesday to more than 11 years in federal prison for taking bribes to allow illegal immigrants and illicit drugs to pass into the country. Sergio Lopez Hernandez, 41, pleaded guilty in April to taking more than $150,000 in bribes to let car loads of people and drugs pass through his lane on the B&M International bridge between Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

I'm just grateful that they are finally prosecuting these corrupt officers and hope they get every last one of them!!!

Fri, 11/06/2009 - 3:14pm Permalink
Rwolf (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It is staggering the number of cops and border patrol agents convicted for assisting narcotic traffickers and other criminals bring contraband into America. Should it be expected that corrupt Cops that take bribes from Narco-Terrorists to bring drugs into America, would also take bribes from foreign terrorists to help bring weapons of mass destruction across the U.S. Border?

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 2:56pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Imagine that - cops dropping charges for nookie pie, cops allowing both drugs and illegals into our nation, cops playing both sides of the law in Philly. Big bucks tend to bend the stoutest of necks. Let's all pray that integrity hasn't gone the way of the Dodo bird, the dinosaurs or Royals baseball.

Fri, 11/06/2009 - 3:56pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

There was also a recent story about New Mexico and the corrupt police there being controlled by Mexican meth dealers. When this travesty called the drug war is over, cops and criminals will have less options.

Sun, 11/08/2009 - 3:41pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

It's every where! You give a punk and badge and a gun and they think they are above the law. They arrest people for the exact same thing they are doing. Corrupt cops, watch out. Tax payers are getting tired of you. Remember it will come back to bite you. You may be a cell mate with someone you arrested. WOW! would they love that!

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:32am Permalink
Anonymous512 (not verified)

Austin police officers will shoot you in the back while you're handcuffed laying flat on your stomach. Austin has some of the most corrupt police officers in the nation. Why so many corrupt cops in a city that is known to be liberal? They hire people who don't live in the city but in small towns on the outskirts. We all know that small towns like this, especially in texas is a breeding ground for white racists. Minorities don't stand a chance in the city of Austin.

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 7:19pm Permalink

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.