Pubdate: Fri, 21 May 2004 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2004 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) EIGHT POLICE OFFICERS ARE ACQUITTED OF CORRUPTION CHARGES IN DETROIT DETROIT - Eight police officers were acquitted Thursday of charges that they lied, falsified reports and planted evidence to lock up drug dealers and other criminals. The jury, after deliberating for more than three days, found the officers not guilty of all charges. Nearly 100 witnesses testified during the trial, which started Feb. 11 and included five days of closing arguments. Defense lawyers argued the case was built on the lies of criminals who wanted to get the Detroit officers off the force. Outside the federal courthouse Thursday, the officers and their families cried and hugged each other. "I'm very happy about this," said Frank Eaman, an attorney for Matthew Zani. "This was the criminals on the street trying to get the cops off the street." Prosecutors say Zani, 37, and William Melendez, 35, were the "masterminds" of a conspiracy to "run roughshod over the civil rights of the victims." Nineteen officers were indicted in the case, dealing another blow to the embattled Detroit Police Department. The Justice Department has ordered the department to change how it trains officers, uses force and houses prisoners. Ron Scott, a spokesman for the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, called the acquittals "outrageous." Three officers in the case pleaded guilty in exchange for leniency and agreed to testify for the government. In April, U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn dismissed charges against former officer Stephen Pardo in the case. The other officers are expected to stand trial later. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin