News from the weird

-- Suspicion Confirmed: After Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Donna Jane Watts ticketed Miami Police Department officer Fausto Lopez in 2011 for speeding to an off-duty job at 120 mph, naturally some in law enforcement began harassing her as a "rat," according to a February Associated Press report. One provocation stood out -- other officers' accessing Watts' driver record by claiming to be on official business. Watts identified those officers' employers and recently filed a lawsuit under the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act, which provides penalties of up to $2,500 for each of the more than 200 unauthorized searches by 88 officers from 25 police agencies. [Associated Press via msn.com, 2-11-2014]

Timothy Margis, 38, had risen professionally to become the director of Public Safety of Concordia University in River Forest, Ill. He is also the man who was fired in February after admitting that he had committed a "lewd act" in a colleague's office (which police later explained involved masturbating into a woman's shoe). (2) Catherine Dajnowski, 40, was arrested in February in Boca Raton, Fla., after she had climbed into a shopping cart in the parking lot of a Publix supermarket and would not allow a Publix employee to return it to the store. Dajnowski called 911 three times from the cart, demanding that police come make the employee leave her alone -- the third time during which a sheriff's deputy was standing right beside the cart. [OakPark.com, 2-20-2014] [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 2-21-2014]

The surveillance video of The Shambles bar in Chicago showed that an attempted break-in one night in January went awry when the unidentified perp removed the front entrance lock but gave up and fled seconds later when he couldn't open the door -- which he was shown furiously pulling on, oblivious that it was a "push" door. (2) Robert Williams, 42, was charged with robbing a PNC Bank in Laurel, Md., in February after starring in the surveillance video by twice spilling his entire loot ($20,650) on the bank's floor. After he finally gathered the bills and fled in a pickup truck, police punctured the tires, and when Williams tried to run, he slipped on the ice, slashing his head open. [DNAinfo.com (Chicago), 1-15-2014] [WRC-TV (Washington), 2-20-2014]

-- Rape-prevention activists estimate that local governments have backlogs of untested evidentiary "rape kits" that total up to 400,000 nationally -- signifying free crimes for rapists, lost justice for victims, and ruined reputations for men wrongly arrested. (As TV police dramas emphasize, many rape victims are reluctant to submit to the indignity of swabbing and photographing so soon after being violated and comply only because detectives assure them of the rape kit's importance.) Memphis, Tenn., has an inventory of 12,000, and the state of Texas at least 16,000 -- dating back to the 1980s. However, the cost of testing (about $500 each) is daunting for many city budgets, according to a February report by the Rape Kit Action Project in New York. [CBS News, 2-23-2014]

-- More Texas Justice: After 37 years in prison, Jerry Hartfield goes to court in April for a retrial of his 1977 conviction (and death sentence) for murder in Bay City, Texas. Actually, the 1977 conviction was overturned, but before Hartfield could demand his release (he is described in court documents as illiterate with an IQ of 51), the then-governor commuted the sentence to life in prison in 1983. It was only in 2006 that a fellow inmate persuaded Hartfield that the commutation was illusory -- since there was, at that point, no "sentence" to commute. Hartfield's lawyers call Texas' treatment a blatant violation of his constitutional right to a "speedy" trial, but prosecutors suggest that it is Hartfield's own fault that he has remained in prison the last 30 years. [Associated Press via Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2-14-2014]

-- Inexplicable: (1) Three suspects fled with about 30 pieces of jewelry from a burglary at Timothy's Fine Jewelry in Broomfield, Colo., in January, but not before creating a puzzling scene on the surveillance video. Crushing the glass cases with sledgehammers, they moved quickly around the store, all the while constantly telling each other, "I love you, brother." (2) Glenn Rundles, 32, was captured only days after robbing two women at knifepoint in East Post Oak, Texas, in January -- despite a wanted poster called by some the "worst police sketch ever," a "cartoon" of a comically round-faced man (displayed at http://huff.to/1cXWT3p). [KCNC-TV (Denver), 1-21-2014] [Huffington Post, 1-30-2014]

The lukewarm prosecution of two Steubenville (Ohio) High football players for an August 2012 rape was foundering until Internet hacker Deric Lostutter, 26, raised the incident's profile, but now Lostutter faces a vindictive prosecution and the possibility he could serve a prison sentence five times longer than the wrist-slap detention the now-convicted rapists served. When Lostutter took interest, many Steubenville students and residents had been hoping to quiet the case or even blame the victim, but (according to November reporting by Rolling Stone) apparently one Steubenville High official managed to convince the FBI that Lostutter's hacking of the official's personal emails was a greater national threat than the rapes and provoked a SWAT raid on Lostutter's modest farmhouse. (Besides the football players, the city's school superintendent was indicted for tampering with evidence and three other officials for false statements and failing to report child abuse.) [Rolling Stone, 11-27-2013]

An alcohol-hammered Troy Prockett, 37, was arrested in January near Hudson, Mass., after his car spun out of control on Interstate 290 and he fled on foot, pursued by state troopers who followed him to a tree, which he had climbed to about 30 feet up. Playing innocent, Prockett asked if the troopers had yet "caught the guy who was driving." The driver was still loose, Prockett said, even though only one set of footprints led to the tree (but, Prockett explained, that was because the real driver was carrying him piggyback!). Finally, as firefighters were arriving to climb after him, Prockett (according to the troopers' report) "rambled on about being an owl." [WCVB-TV (Boston), 1-9-2014]

Not Ready for Prime Time: Andre Bacon, 21, was arrested in February in the Cragin neighborhood in Chicago after, police said, he tried to carjack a woman who was about to get in the car in her garage. The woman gave up her keys, but ran out and closed the door as she left, locking Bacon in the garage with no way out. Police arrived minutes later to find Bacon sitting meekly in the driver's seat. [Chicago Tribune, 2-2-2014]

Imprisoned Kingston ex-cop Timothy Matthews has paid $18,320 of $212,000 he owes

By Diane Pineiro-Zucker, Daily Freeman

KINGSTON Timothy Matthews, the former city police detective lieutenant who is serving prison time for stealing more than $200,000 in public and private money, is making restitution payments as ordered by the court, but Ulster County prosecutors aren’t happy with the speed of his payments, according to Assistant District Attorney John Tobin.

“We have recovered money ... but there’s still a lot more,” Tobin said Monday. He said Matthews has paid about 8.5 percent of what he owes.

Matthews, a high-ranking and highly regarded member of the Kingston Police Department before the theft allegations surfaced, pleaded guilty in February 2012 and was sentenced to three to nine years in state prison.

Matthews has paid $18,320 of the $212,000 he admitted stealing from the city of Kingston, Ulster County and Ulster Savings Bank, Tobin said. That leaves a debt of $193,680.

When payments are received by the DA’s office, before the city, county or bank can be repaid, the DA must allocate $500 to federal and state back taxes, to Matthews’ ex-wife for alimony and to Matthews’ children who are under the age of 21 for child support, Tobin said.

After that, “the leftover is supposed to be deposited in the DA’s office account,” and 58 percent goes to the city, to pay back the $122,000 stolen; 38 percent goes to Ulster County, to pay back $80,000; and 4 percent goes to Ulster Savings Bank, to pay back $10,000, Tobin said.

Matthews “has been sending money voluntarily but not on a regular basis at all. ... We’re left with whatever crumbs drop off that table,” Tobin said. “Luckily, we at least had pension benefits to draw from. Apparently there’s slim pickings. ... We’re a little disappointed.”

Under New York state law, Tobin said, the DA’s office is not informed of the total amount of pension payments Matthews receives.

Special prosecutor Thomas Melanson said his office is in the process of having Matthews’ restitution order modified by Rensselear County Judge Andrew Ceresia, who presided over Matthews’ trial after Ulster County Judge Donald A. Williams recused himself. The amended order “will recognize the priority (of Matthews’ obligations),” specifying that he must pay tax liens and child support before repaying the city, the county and the bank, Melanson said.

Melanson said Matthews’ obligation to pay health insurance premiums for his children was not included in the original order. The order also failed to specify that “if he comes into any other income ... it must go towards restitution,” Melanson said.

The amended order also will specify that Matthews’ prison sentence can be extended by one year if he fails to pay, Melanson said. “He’s on notice now for that,” he said.

Melanson said Matthews fell behind in his restitution payments but a check submitted at the end of last year and a subsequent check “about a month ago” may have brought him up to date.

“He made payments,” Melanson said. “But they might not be as much as anybody would like them to be. We can’t say, ‘Don’t pay child support and pay restitution first.’”

In his plea, Matthews admitted stealing more than $50,000 from the city of Kingston; more than $50,000 from Ulster County, for which he headed the anti-crime task force known as URGENT; and $10,000 from Ulster Savings Bank, for which he handled security tasks.

Matthews is scheduled to have his first parole hearing the week of April 14. Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright has said he will not attend.

Tobin said last month that the DA’s office attends such hearing only “in extraordinary cases,” and Carnright said, “I don’t see this as an exception.”

Matthews is serving his sentence at the Midstate Correctional Facility near Utica, according to the New York State Department of Corrections.

Former Bluffton cop to get 4 years prison for sex with child

By Greg Sowinski gsowinski

BLUFFTON — A former village auxiliary police officer will be sentenced next month to four years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

Andrew G. Probst, 24, of Bluffton, pleaded guilty to eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all fourth-degree felonies. Sentencing is scheduled for April 28. Probst is out on bail.

The prosecution agreed to the four-year sentence in exchange for the guilty plea.

The crimes are unrelated to Probst’s job with the Bluffton Police Department, which he worked as an unpaid auxiliary officer, said Chief Rick Skilliter. Auxiliary officers are required to work nine hours a month.

Probst was hired Nov. 14, 2011, and resigned Feb. 17, Skilliter said.

Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Terri Kohlrieser said the charges accuse Probst of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a girl between the ages of 13 and 15.

That relationship occurred between Sept. 1, 2012, and Jan. 20, Kohlrieser said.

The girl told a staff member at the school she attends and that staff member, who is required by law to report such crimes, reported the matter to Allen County Children Services, Kohlrieser said.

Former Carol Stream cop sentenced in DUI crash that injured 3

By MARY BETH VERSACI -

CAROL STREAM – A former Carol Stream police sergeant received two years of court supervision after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.  Bryan Pece, 44, of Carol Stream, entered a blind plea of guilty in connection to a May 5, 2013, crash that left himself and two others injured, officials said.

Former Aurora cop sentenced to community service for theft

By: Erika Wurst |

A former Aurora Police Department detective was ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution and perform community service on Tuesday after pleading guilty to stealing money from an organization that represents police officers.

Joseph Accardi, 36, of Naperville, a 15-year Aurora Police Department veteran, was convicted of misdemeanor theft for taking $9,019 from the Association of Professional Police Officers last year. Accardi resigned from the department on Feb. 16, and had been on administrative leave since September 2013 following an investigation by Illinois State Police into the theft.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon his office decided to charge Accardi with misdemeanor theft instead of felony theft.

As part of Accardi’s plea deal, he will be required to serve 200 hours of community service, be placed on one year of conditional discharge, and participate in a theft awareness program. He was also required to pay $500 in fines and court costs.

On Tuesday, Accardi also turned over a check for $9,019 that he stole from APPO.

Prosecutors said the thefts occurred from May 2010 through May 2013.

Aurora Police Chief Gregory Thomas said he was disappointed in Accardi’s arrest.

“The accusations against Mr. Accardi tarnish the honorable profession of law enforcement,” Thomas said. “When a police officer is charged with breaking the laws that he or she has taken a solemn oath to uphold and protect, it is a betrayal of the community’s trust and something that cannot be tolerated.”

Thomas said that as soon as the allegations surfaced, the matter was turned over to the Illinois State Police to conduct an independent investigation. Sources said that more than 800 pages of documents were compiled regarding Accardi’s case.

“The city appreciates the thorough work of both the Illinois State Police and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office to bring this unfortunate matter to a conclusion,” Thomas said.

As a result of Accardi’s arrest and conviction, at least five cases charged in Kane County have been dropped, according to McMahon. Accardi was the lead detective on a felony financial fraud and identity theft case where the suspects were accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a victim.

McMahon said prosecutors are looking at other cases to determine the role Accardi played as a detective.

“We are still reviewing files to determine his level of involvement,” McMahon said when discussing Accardi’s charges last week. “We have sent disclosure requirements to the defendants on pending cases where Mr. Accardi is involved.”

DuPage and Kendall counties, which include parts of Accardi’s Aurora jurisdiction, have also been notified of Accardi’s arrest.

“Mr. Accardi was well known to this office, and was someone who was held in high regard,” McMahon said. “These allegations are disappointing.”

Bringing an End to State Sanctioned Sexual Assault, Rape Culture and Law Enforcement Impunity

By Cathy Mendonça

The San Diego police department’s scandal involving officers accused of preying on women who they came in contact with while in uniform and on duty needs to be addressed.

First, former officer Anthony Arevalos is serving an eight year sentence for molesting female drivers during traffic stops in the Gaslamp quarter from 2009 to 2011. As a result, Chief William Lansdowne implemented changes within the department to help uncover the potential for other rogue officers to go unnoticed.

Then, on Feb. 9, Officer Christopher Hays was booked on criminal charges in connection with inappropriate pat downs that prosecutors allege were done for his sexual gratification.

In the process of the Hays investigation, another unidentified officer was accused of exposing himself and inappropriately touching a female in custody.

The department launched a new policy requiring TWO officers to accompany females in custody.

The timeline of events are as follows:

•             Oct. 30, 2013: Woman identified as “Jane Doe 1? was frisked by Officer Hays. She is later named in a criminal complaint alleging false imprisonment and sexual battery.

•             Nov. 10, 2013: Hays allegedly committed sexual battery in an incident involving a woman identified as “Jane Doe 2”, according to a criminal complaint filed against Hays on February 18.

•             Dec. 23, 2013: Hays is accused of sexual battery involving a woman identified as Jane Doe 3 according to a criminal complaint filed following his arrest.

•             Dec. 24, 2013: A fourth incident allegedly occurred this time involving false imprisonment of a woman identified as Jane Doe 4, prosecutors allege.

•             December 2013: After a woman contacted SDPD complaining about Hays’ behavior during a “pat down,” an internal affairs investigation was launched.

•             January 2014: Case was handed over to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for investigation.

•             Feb. 6: Chief Lansdowne confirms an officer is under investigation for sexual misconduct involving four women.

•             Feb. 7: Attorney Dan Gilleon claims a fifth woman has come forward with allegations that are more severe than what the victims before her may have alleged. His client claims she was coerced into giving Hays oral sex in exchange for her freedom in October 2012. She claims she contacted SDPD but did not receive a call back.

•             Feb 9: Officer Hays was booked into San Diego County Jail on charges of false imprisonment and sexual battery.

•             Feb. 9: Chief Lansdowne confirms five alleged victims had contacted the police to accuse Hays of improper pat downs and the sixth woman had gone to Gilleon.

•             Feb. 14: Attorney Brian Watkins said he represents a seventh alleged victim who claims Hays touched her breasts, “caressed her crotch, caressed her buttocks and then grabbed her wrist and put her hand on his crotch” during a pat down in October 2013. His client did not report the incident to police.

•             Feb. 18: District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announces two charges of felony false imprisonment and three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery were filed against Hays on behalf of four women.

•             Feb. 19: Hays officially resigns from the department. His attorney said Hays felt betrayed by his colleagues.

•             Feb. 19: San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne announces another officer has been accused of touching a female detainee arrested on suspicion of auto theft. The unidentified officer has not been charged. The alleged victim called to report the incident because she believed he was Hays.

•             Feb. 19: The department also announced a new policy that two officers would accompany every female detainee or arrestee going forward.

In addition, a series of sexually suggestive posters hung in the San Diego Police Department’s sex crimes unit in 2011, as Officer Anthony Arevalos patrolled the streets trading tickets for sexual favors.” Former officer Arevalos is now serving an eight year sentence for molesting female drivers during traffic stops in the Gaslamp quarter from 2009 to 2011. This year, ABC 10 news discovered the posters while investigating San Diego police culture now that another San Diego police officer is under investigation for sexually assaulting women while on duty. The posters’ existence had been reported, but they had never been seen by the public until now.

In addition “NBC 7 learned the identity of a second San Diego Police officer accused of misconduct. Multiple police sources confirm that Officer Donald Moncrief, 39, is accused of touching the woman he was arresting and exposing himself to her.”

We deserve to be safe. The recurrences of sexual assault committed by the above named officers as well as the investigation of San Diego police department’s facility concluded that we are not. Putting a woman or anyone in a position where they are LEGALLY sexually violated UNDER ANY THREAT should never happen. These THREATS are also in the form of entrapment by undercover police officers who are ALLOWED to lie, engage in sexual and illegal activities in an attempt to further incriminate the victim by either to face jail or deportation. The same applies to strip searches, stop and frisk procedures as well as intimate partner violence committed at a rate HIGHER than that of the general public, all while under the impunity protected by law enforcement’s blue code of silence; a brotherhood they hold protecting their own perpetrators who serve in the force.

The SDPD needs to be vigilant in training its officers and ensuring that there are consequences for breaking the law and violating basic ethical rules.

As members of United Against Police Terror and other allied organizations, we demand The Police Chief and other leadership:

1.            Institute sustained and comprehensive training for EVERY incoming class of officers on rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and proper police conduct. A single training session, or a simplistic lecture not to rape, is NOT acceptable.

2.            Institute a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexualized behavior while on the job. While the media has only uncovered some severe cases, it illustrates an extreme example of police officers using their power to abuse women and too many of us have witnessed officers behaving in sexually inappropriate ways while on the job. There is no excuse for that behavior, and the police force must take it seriously. We want an easily-accessible reporting mechanism for sexual assault and harassment at the hands of police officers, and a demonstrated commitment to punishing officers who exploit their position to harass and assault the people they are supposed to protect.

3.            Be accountable to the community of San Diego in a transparent process by hiring an independent community appointed auditor of law enforcement as well as implementing the above two demands. They must keep community leaders and San Diego County residents informed about the initiatives they institute, as well as keeping local politicians accountable and how they are working to make sure this victims shaming culture is not allowed and these uniformed perpetrators are NOT above the law!

Off-duty Lompoc Police Officer Charged with DUI

Veteran David Garcia stopped by fellow LPD officer

Keith Carls,

An off-duty veteran Lompoc Police officer is facing driving under the influence charges after being stopped by a fellow officer.

It happened early in the morning last Friday on "H" Street.

Lompoc Police say Officer David Garcia was off-duty, driving his own car when he hit a tree in the median along the 200 block of North H Street, a Lompoc Police officer on-duty and on patrol saw it happen and watched Garcia keep driving northbound

Garcia was eventually pulled over several blocks away with the arresting officer believing Garcia may have been driving under the influence.

A decision was then made to have the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department come in and handle on the on-scene investigation of the off-duty Garcia.

In a statement to Central Coast News, Lompoc Police says the Sheriff's Department briefly took officer Garcia into custody and then released him with a citation for DUI.

Garcia has been with LPD for about 15 years.

Lompoc Police say they cannot comment on whether Garcia has been allowed to return to active duty because it's a personnel matter.

Garcia was not booked into Santa Barbara County Jail.

The County District Attorney's Office will decide what charges he'll face.

D.C. officer charged with insurance fraud

WASHINGTON - A D.C. police officer is facing insurance fraud and attempted theft charges related to alleged damage to police equipment.Aisha McCrary has been indicted in Prince George's County, the office of State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks announced Monday.According to Alsobrooks' office, McCrary is accused of filing an insurance claim that her work radio, a personal laptop and other items were damaged from a water leak in her home in July 2013.McCrary sent a letter to the Metropolitan Police Department from a tech supervisor who an insurance adjustor later determined does not exist. She provided the same letter a second time and then tried to withdraw her claim.An investigation found that McCrary's radio was not damaged and she had not reported any damage to the equipment.An arraignment is scheduled for March 21. 

NC ex-cop impersonates federal agent

Rafael Angel Nieves was arrested two weeks after he allegedly pretended to be a federal agent while at the scene of his daughter's car accident

By Natalie Allison Janicello

Times-News

ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — A man charged Wednesday with impersonating a law enforcement officer resigned as a corporal with the Burlington Police Department in 2008, several months after being placed on administrative leave for unlawfully pointing a gun at two people.

Rafael Angel Nieves, 42, was arrested at the Alamance County Sheriff's Office two weeks after he allegedly pretended to be a federal agent while at the scene of his daughter's car accident. According to the city of Burlington, Nieves was hired as a Burlington police officer in December 2002. Assistant Chief Chris Verdeck said Nieves worked with the Gang Task Force while he was employed.

Following a records request, Aaron Noble, human resources director for the city, said Nieves was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 1, 2008 after an incident the night before in which he was accused of unlawfully pointing a firearm at two people.

Noble said he was unsure whether the incident occurred while Nieves was on duty.

It was unclear how long the administrative duty lasted, or what the police department concluded after conducting an investigation into the incident. Noble said Nieves voluntarily resigned in November 2008.

According to the sheriff's office, Nieves' daughter was involved in a single-vehicle accident Feb. 19 on Isley Road, damaging a fence. While a trooper from Highway Patrol was still in route to the wreck, Nieves' daughter reportedly called Nieves and the sheriff's office about a disturbance involving the property owner, said Randy Jones, public information officer for the sheriff's office.

Jones didn't know what the disagreement was about, and said no report was taken since deputies found no disturbance upon arrival.

Nieves allegedly came to the scene and displayed a badge to the trooper and sheriff's deputies, identifying himself as "a federal agent with the United States Department of Justice."

Later, the son of the property owner filed complaints with both the sheriff's office and with federal authorities about Nieves displaying his credentials, "the way he conducted himself and the fact he would come up to an accident scene like that and flash a badge," Jones said.

Upon investigating, the sheriff's office determined that Nieves was not a DOJ agent, but is employed in a non-sworn position with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Greensboro office.

He was arrested at the sheriff's office and given a $400 bond.

Former Kankakee cop arrested again

A former Kankakee police officer who narrowly escaped a felony theft conviction and had another misdemeanor case against him dropped, has been arrested once again. Jeff Sais, 45, was arrested Sunday night for allegedly choking his 26-year-old live-in girlfriend. According to Bourbonnais police, Sais accused his girlfriend of attacking him with a knife. But police noted in their report that his story changed multiple times.

San Jose Cop Arrested For Raping Woman He Was Supposed To Help

By Brock Keeling

San Jose Police Officer Geoffrey Graves, 38, has been arrested for felony rape, accused of attacking a woman he met while responding to a call.

On September 22, Graves and trio of other officers responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a married couple. Although no crime had occurred, the woman decided she would feel safer if she stayed at a local hotel for the night. Graves took the woman to the hotel, where she checked in alone and promptly fell asleep. A few minutes later, the alleged rape occurred.

The Chronicle has more:

Fifteen minutes later, the woman heard knocking and opened the door.

"The defendant entered the room, grabbed the victim and pushed her onto the bed," prosecutors said. "The defendant took off parts of his uniform. The defendant removed the victim's pants and undergarment. The defendant climbed on top of the victim while she resisted with verbal and physical communication."

Graves "forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse" for about 10 minutes before leaving, authorities said.

The victim went to authorities, prompting a five-month-long investigation. According to KRON 4, San Jose police chief Larry Esquivel made clear the following in a written statement:

"Please know that once I became aware of this incident, we quickly and proactively initiated a criminal investigation in cooperation with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office...This is an extremely serious allegation, and if proven true, the officer will be held accountable. While this incident is very troubling and tugs at our integrity, it is an isolated incident and by no means a reflection of our officers who perform their duties with honor and professionalism on a daily basis."

Graves was on paid administrative leave since the investigation began.

Drugged and drunk cop: Ludlow selectmen vote to suspend indicted police officer Thomas Foye without pay

By Patrick Johnson

LUDLOW — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night voted to suspended indicted police Lt. Thomas Foye without pay, effective immediately, pending the outcome of his court case on charges of the theft of drugs from a police evidence locker last year.

The vote was 5-0.

Foye had been suspended with pay since his arrest, but with a Hampden Superior Court grand jury handing down a 5-count indictment last week, the board is allowed under state law to make the suspension without pay.

Foye and his attorney, Michael Clancy of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, were present.

At the start of the meeting, Foye asked if the board would be willing to go into executive session so that he might speak in private about particulars of his case without the press and public having access. When the board opposed that, he sat silent during the discussion, asking only that he be allowed to make a brief statement afterward.

In his statement, Foye, 49, made his first public comments on the case since his arrest, and gave a hint at the particular circumstances that led to his arrest and suspension and cost him his reputation and what had been a distinguished career in law enforcement.

He thanked the board for their time and consideration and said he would have his day in court to explain himself.

"I love this town and spent a lot of good years with a lot of good, dedicated service," he said. "I went into surgery a hero and came out a drug addict, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."

He apologized to the selectmen for placing them in this position.

"I love this town and respect all of you," he said. Then he said he would work to reclaim his reputation.

"I'm not done with this. I'm going to help someone. Someday you'll be proud to say you know me again, and proud that I'm from this town," he said.

When he finished, he left the room and headed for the elevator. Clancy said he would have no further comment.

Selectmen chair William E. Rooney said the Foye fallout since August has been the toughest issue in his six years on the board. "You're my friend, my former neighbor. I know your family very well. I'm not enjoying this," he said.

But the charges against Foye are very serious, and the selectmen have a responsibility to act in the town's best interests, he said.

Foye was charged with tampering with evidence, theft of drugs from a dispensary and possession of a class B substance, cocaine, according to the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in Hampden Superior Court at a later date.

Foye, a 25-year police veteran, was arrested Aug. 15 at the Ludlow police station by members of the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the office of Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni.

His arrest was the result of an internal investigation within the department after some drug evidence was found to be missing. Ludlow police contacted the Hampden district attorney, and the DA referred the case to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Foye was arrested after he entered the evidence locker without authorization. At the time he was found to be in possession of cocaine, officials said. The investigation determined that Foye had entered the locker multiple times using a key that allowed him entry without leaving any record of it in his name. They also found empty evidence bags in his office.

Foye denied the charges at his arraignment in Palmer District Court following his arrest. He was released without bail on the condition that he surrender all firearms to the police and that he remain drug free and submit to random drug testing.

According to court documents, a video feed captured Foye entering the locked narcotics locker at the Ludlow Police Station, where he appears to manipulate and open evidence bags.

Prosecutors charge that between January and August of last year, he removed dozens of pieces of evidence including cocaine and prescription pills. They also charge that he replaced narcotics evidence in evidence bags with pills that did not match the description on the corresponding state lab paperwork.

Prior to his arrest, Foye’s career was described as exemplary. He had been promoted to the rank of provisional lieutenant by the Ludlow Board of Selectmen just three months prior to his arrest.

His salary in 2012 according to town records was $104,629, including $20,987 in overtime.

Foye, a former School Committee member, worked for nine years in the Detective Bureau. In the 1990s, he served on an anti-gang unit.

Two years ago, Foye participated in a forum at Ludlow High School where he warned parents and residents about the growing danger of prescription drug abuse. He said the problem in Ludlow is the worst he has seen it in the 25 years he has been working for the Police Department.

EX-JOHNSTON POLICE OFFICER GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE IN WARWICK BREAK-IN

By Mark Reynolds

WARWICK — A former Johnston police officer who was accused of breaking into a Warwick home and threatening to “blow everybody away” will receive a suspended prison sentence and probation, according to a spokeswoman for Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.

As a part of a plea agreement, the former officer, Marisa Ciccone, appeared Jan. 21 in Superior Court, and pleaded no contest to willful trespass and simple assault, according to the spokeswoman, Emily Martineau.

On Tuesday, Ciccone received a one year suspended sentence along with probation for each count with the sentences to run consecutively, said Martineau. A judge also ordered substance-abuse counseling.

At the time of her arrest in August, Ciccone was charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and disorderly conduct and a felony count of breaking into an occupied home.

A 17-year-old woman accused Ciccone of punching her in the nose during an incident at 53 Byron Boulevard, Warwick. The teen’s uncle, Jamerson M. Bateman, told police that Ciccone had a serious problem with cocaine and had conspired in several profitable drug deals, according to arrest reports from the Warwick Police Department.

Ciccone had come to his home looking for another person as well as money and drugs, Batemen had told police, the reports say.

She was fired from Johnston police in August 2013.

Youngstown police officer suspended for improper conduct

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A Youngstown police officer has disciplined for improper conduct. Detective Sergeant Patricia Garcar received a four day unpaid suspension from the Accident Investigation Unit. An internal investigation found she filed improper time cards on two occasions, and used prescription medication on duty without notifying her supervisor as required. Detective Sergeant Garcar began serving that suspension on Monday