Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jan 2006
Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA)
Copyright: 2006 Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460
Author: Paul Peirce

OFFICERS JAILED IN DRUG CASE

Vandergrift police Chief Joe Caporali had the task of leading one of 
his own shackled patrolmen, Eric Decroo, to a waiting police van 
Friday. The van would carry the part-time officer to Greensburg, 
Westmoreland County, for arraignment on criminal charges of 
conspiring with fellow Vandergrift Patrolman Robert Wright, who is 
accused of selling cocaine to undercover narcotics agents.

Decroo, 26, of Buffalo Township, Butler County, and Wright, 35, of 
Brackenridge, Allegheny County, were arraigned yesterday before 
District Judge James Albert, of Greensburg, on multiple charges of 
selling small amounts of cocaine since last summer.

"It was no satisfaction whatsoever, and to be totally blunt about it 
. as far as I'm concerned, once they stepped over that line selling 
drugs, they were drug dealers ... not police officers," Caporali 
said. "So it was no different than leading any other drug dealer to 
an arraignment."

Caporali was tipped off in late summer that the Westmoreland County 
Drug Task Force and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office 
were conducting separate investigations into the possibility that two 
Vandergrift officers were selling drugs.

Both had been employed in the small Westmoreland County borough for 
more than three years. They were suspended without pay yesterday 
after charges were filed by state Attorney General Thomas Corbett's 
office on the recommendation of a statewide grand jury seated in Pittsburgh.

Decroo also was employed part time by the Freeport Borough Police 
Department in Armstrong County for more than two years. Freeport 
Mayor Robert Ravotti said Decroo is "immediately suspended" and that 
council will take action at its next meeting.

"These men violated the laws that they swore to uphold -- turning 
their backs on their communities and their colleagues in law 
enforcement," Corbett said. "Worst of all, they broke a public trust 
and chose to serve their own self-interest rather than serving the 
citizens for whom they took an oath to protect."

Caporali admitted yesterday that it was tough, once he learned of the 
investigation, to continue for several months placing both officers 
on the weekly patrol schedule -- usually evening and overnight shifts 
- -- to permit the investigations to continue. He said the two officers 
often were on patrol together in Vandergrift, a town of about 4,300 residents.

"It's something I struggled with over the course of time. It was an 
unfortunate and sad situation," Caporali said. "But for the sake of 
the investigation, putting them on the schedule had to be done."

Corbett maintained that investigators had to build their case. 
Authorities were interested in learning where the two officers were 
getting their cocaine supplies; whether any other officers were 
involved; and whether an informant's claims that the officers were 
selling drugs while they were on patrol were true.

Corbett said investigators also believe that the pair were the only 
ones in the department of eight full-time officers and seven 
part-timers who were involved.

Wright is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts 
each of possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession with 
intent to deliver cocaine, and criminal use of a communications 
facility. He was lodged in the county prison on $55,000 bond.

Decroo is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy and 
criminal use of a communications facility. He was jailed on $15,000 bond.
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