Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #477)
Drug War Issues

An Oregon parole officer, a former Wisconsin prosecutor, a Houston crime lab tech, and a pair of New Haven narcs have all crossed over to the dark side this week. Let's get to it:

In New Haven, Connecticut, the city's top narc was arrested Tuesday on charges he stole thousands of dollars on the job. Lt. William White, head of the New Haven Police Department Narcotics Division, was arrested by the FBI after it caught him on video transferring $27,000 in department cash to his car. White is charged with theft of government funds and criminal conspiracy. Also arrested was narcotics Det. Justen Kasperzyk, who was charged with stealing less than $1,000, and three local bail bondsmen, who are charged with bribing White and other police officers to recapture fugitives they were seeking. On Wednesday, New Haven police announced they were disbanding the narcotics unit.

In Houston, a former Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) lab technician was arrested last month on charges he stole more than 50 pounds of cocaine from the agency's Houston crime lab and sold it over a five-year period. Technician Jesus Hinojosa, 30, smuggled the stuff out a brick at a time, selling them for $11,000 to $13,000 each, according to authorities. In all, a DPS investigation has found 57 pounds of cocaine missing from the lab. Internal DPS audit reports show that the agency was aware of security breaches at the lab since 2003. Hinojosa is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and is jailed on a $1 million bond.

In Portland, Oregon, a Multnomah County parole supervisor has resigned after admitting to stealing marijuana from a department property room and smoking it in front of coworkers at a holiday party. Shadman Afzal, 43, had been on leave since the December 9 party at his house, where he began hitting on a joint in front of his fellow parole officers. One of them recognized the container the weed came in as having been seized earlier and logged in at the department's north office. No criminal charges have been filed. Although Azfal hasn't worked since December and officially resigned in January, he is using up vacation time until March 19.

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

http://bamoon.com/2007/03/mystery-of-multnomah-managers.php

the following is from an IT employee at the place that Shadman works and he charcterizes this beahvior as an "Out of character behavior"

the impression I have of county management is that they protect their own; just look at the way they protected Jann Brown (see Jann Brown below) even after a "guilty" verdict was handed down by a jury, and upheld by a Federal judge. Or the strange case of Dr. Peter Davidson(see Peter Davidson below), or other cases (I can't find the link to the woman who worked in the Health Department and started a lawsuit for wrongful termination after she discovered that management was cooking the budget - it was around the same time, or shortly after, Lea's verdict, I believe(see Lea Lakeside below)).
Going back to the case I know about, Jann Brown is still employed at the county, after she, and county management, were found to have wrongfully terminated an employee who was trying to blow the whistle on more corruption. Jann Brown also admitted to an "intimate relationship" with a subordinate, in court - another breach of the county's code of conduct. But since she's management, the others protected her.
...so why did they run Shadman out? Admittedly, they did it in such a way that he may still collect disability pay, and unemployment, and get his pension, so they were far gentler on him than they would be on non-management - but, still... add in the out-of-character nature of the claims against Shadman and it adds up to a mystery, to me.

and add to it that Shadman was suffering from a serious mediacal condition. Who knows what goes in people's mind when they are suffering?

Mon, 03/19/2007 - 3:15am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

If anybody has ever been the "victim" in a Mulnomah County "take-down" they would probably all agree that it is a process that is generally much like a witch hunt. In the Parole and Probation department for example.....Initially one would get falsely accused of something that they have to "prove" their innocence for (keep lots of dates, notes etc...your county "friends" will not support you). As the "Mean Lower Level" employees pick you apart, spread many lies and malicious gossip regarding your "suspect" behavior you start getting less focused, start loosing sleep and begin to feel "beat down". Sometimes they just refer to the PROBLEM is as "issues" which needless to say give many of the flock more questions to "what happened". The Supervisors then get involved, "trying to help". What they are really doing is protecting their employees that are doing the dirty work. They even may let you know (wink, wink) that if anymore issues come up...feel free to go directly to them. What I have witnessed is if you go to one to get help you are assured confidentiality....followed by a meeting with all of the PO's, alerting them of "this situation".
This will happen to any employee that questions the goings-on in the dirty politics around them….or if they the Mean Crew” feel like their "secrets" are at risk. There are many horrible incidences that have occurred that were results of the lack of supervision of offenders by these people. With all the offenders and wok overload they report I cannot understand how they get time or energy to go after someone for reasons often unknown. My guess is that they were planning on getting rid of Shadman for who knows what reason and after months of being rejected, questioned and gossiped about, they finally had something. I doubt the PO's were so uncomfortable at this party that they felt the "ethical" obligation to report it to a supervisor. I bet some of the other lower lever supervisors were attended the party. If the marijuana was or was not stolen, Shadman would not stand a chance of getting a fair opportunity to speak his piece. It would be several PO's word against his. Also, they have a habit of hitting hard when someone is down or vulnerable. Sounds like they have been working on this for a while (emails etc).
I wonder whose toes Shadman stepped on???????????? Lastly, it is said that the county commonly uses slander and defamation claims to exit people due to the lower cap on these suits (example: whistle blowing…discrimination).

Fri, 03/23/2007 - 3:06pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

It is common knowlege here in Nashville,TN ,that there are many of the Metro Davidson county police department (cops) who provide special protection for drug dealers. Those who don't pay a "commision" to the cops will lose their protection and be arrested.some of the dealers are gang members. I can hardly wait to move away from here.

Sat, 04/14/2007 - 6:22am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

SGT. CLIFF BACIGALUPI 30878 IS ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT POLICE EVER TO WALK THE FACE OF THIS WORLD. DISHONEST HE EVEN FILES FALSE POLICE REPORTS DATING FROM 2000 TO PRESENT.
EVERY ROOKIE WHO WORKED WITH BACIGALUPI IS NOW ALSO CORRUPT.
SERY 36878 HAS KILLED A MAN WORK WITH BACIGALUPI
HUGHES 45063
CLARK BADGE#unknown
PORTLAND POLICE LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, AND SOME KILL.

MAYBE CHASTMAN 36610 WILL BLOW THE WHISTLE; HE SEEMED TO BE HONEST.

TELL ME YOUR STORY! DO YOU KNOW NAMES OF OTHERS-CHANCES ARE THEY HAVE WORKED WITH SGT. BACIGALUPI

Thu, 10/23/2008 - 6:55pm Permalink

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