Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Source: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
Copyright: 2006sMediaNews Group, Inc
Contact:  http://www.connpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574
Author: Michael P. Mayko
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

EX-DETECTIVE SENTENCED TO 45 MONTHS

BRIDGEPORT -- A police detective whose addiction to  painkillers led 
to involvement with a big-time city  drug dealer will be spending 45 
months in federal  prison.

"The community looks up to its police officers," Senior  U.S. 
District Judge Alan H. Nevas told retired city  Police Detective 
Jeffrey Streck, 39, of Monroe, who was  also fined $5,000. "They 
don't expect them to get  involved with drug dealers."

Streck, a muscular 6-footer, was one of nearly three  dozen people 
caught up in an FBI investigation of drug  dealing by Juan and Victor 
Marrero -- two Bridgeport  businessmen who have pleaded guilty to 
drug charges.  That same investigation also led to the disclosure 
that Mayor John M. Fabrizi abused cocaine.

Nevas noted that addiction is a disease that "cuts  across all 
lines," occurring not only in housing  projects but affluent communities.

The judge commended the former police officer for  spending a week in 
detox treatment at Bridgeport  Hospital following his Feb. 19, 2005, 
arrest and then  successfully completing a highly intensive 
outpatient substance abuse program at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

Still, Nevas thought it important to order Streck into  a 500-hour 
substance abuse program in prison, and then  continue receiving 
treatment after his release, when he  will be supervised by the U.S. 
Probation Office for  three years. Nevas also ordered Streck to 
perform 250  hours of community service during that supervision.

Moments before being sentenced to his prison term,  Streck, rose to 
address the judge. But first he turned  toward the rear of the 
courtroom and apologized to  Bridgeport Police Sgts. Rick Donaldson 
and Juan J.  Gonzalez, who worked on the investigation. "When they 
arrested me, they truly saved my life," said Streck,  his voice 
cracking with emotion. "My life was in a real  bad way."

He said he grew up in a family that abused alcohol  thinking "maybe 
they loved liquor more than loved you.

"Now I understand they couldn't help themselves," said  Streck, 
pausing frequently to fight back tears. After dealing with his 
addiction, he told the judge he is now helping his mother battle her 
addiction. The former detective told the judge that he "always wanted 
to be a cop" but now will be remembered only "as a dirty cop."

Recently, he said he stopped during a traffic accident  in Trumbull 
to help rescue the driver.

The responding Trumbull officer told him "I know all  about you" and 
just walked way.

"I guess that will be my legacy," he said.

For nearly an hour Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney  Felice Duffy 
played several tape recordings in which  Streck negotiated the 
purchases of oxycodone and small  amounts of cocaine from Juan Marrero.

All of the recorded telephone calls occurred during a  time Streck 
was on disability leave from the  department, said Andrew Gaillard, 
Streck's lawyer.

Duffy also quoted FBI documents in which Marrero told  agents how he 
and Streck became friends during workouts  at the World Gym in 
Trumbull in 2003. She said the  pair's relationship grew to 
socializing, then sharing  painkillers and finally dealing drugs.

Marrero said Streck assured him he would let the drug  dealer know if 
there was an investigation, the  prosecutor said.

"Streck used his position to ingratiate himself with a  drug dealer," 
Duffy said. "He abused it to the point of  participating in drug 
trafficking with him."

But Gaillard said Streck's problems all traced back to  job-related 
injuries, which led to painkillers and  addiction.

"He recognizes he did wrong and screwed up in a big  way," Gaillard 
said. "He wasn't motivated by the  profit, but by the pills."
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