This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 5:25pm (Issue #914)

Drug War Issues

This week, we've got a Tennessee twofer and Pennsylvania cop with a bad, bad pill habit. Let's get to it:

In Tazewell, Tennessee, a former Claiborne County sheriff's narcotics officer was indicted December 9 for allegedly trying to shake down a drug dealer this past June. Robert Glenn Chadwell, 49, went down after the drug dealer complained to his defense attorney, who contacted the sheriff's office, which then brought in the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Chadwell was then observed accepting $2,000 in cash from the dealer with a promise of more money at a later date. In return, Chadwell would use his "discretion" to not pursue drug and firearms charges against him. Chadwell was then fired. He is now charged with one count each of extortion and bribery of a public servant. The indictment was not made public until last Friday.

In Memphis, a former federal prison guard was arrested last Wednesday on charges he tried to smuggle marijuana into the prison at Forrest City, Arkansas. John Brooks, 28, is charged with one count of accepting money to smuggle contraband into the prison in violation of his official duties and one count of attempting to provide marijuana to an inmate. He's looking at up to 20 years in federal prison.

In Media, Pennsylvania, a former Upper Darby Township police officer was arrested last Thursday on more than a thousand criminal counts for allegedly stealing money and drugs and tampering with evidence in the department's evidence room. Brad Ross, 41, went down after another evidence officer noticed that evidence had been tampered with and he then checked himself into a drug rehab program. The department then began an evidence room audit, finding numerous lots of evidence had been tampered with, and then searched Ross's home, finding lots of incriminating evidence, including pill bottles prescribed to other people. The department also found that he had been prescribed more than 1,800 Oxycontin tablets himself. The audit found that 203 evidence envelopes had been tampered with, with a total of more than 3,700 pills, $14,000 in cash, eight cellphones, and assorted gift cards and jewelry missing. Ross is now charged with with 203 counts of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, 203 counts of receiving stolen property, 203 counts of tampering with evidence, 203 counts of obstructing the administration of law, 203 counts of hindering prosecution and 203 counts of official oppression.

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