Pubdate: Wed, 14 Mar 2007
Source: Stamford Advocate, The (CT)
Copyright: 2007 Southern Connecticut Newspaper, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1522

NEW HAVEN POLICE TO SHUT DOWN NARCOTICS UNIT FOLLOWING ARRESTS

HARTFORD, Conn. -- New Haven police announced Wednesday that they are
disbanding their narcotics unit and handing over some of its cases to
state authorities in response to the arrests of two officers on theft
charges resulting from FBI stings.

Police Chief Francisco Ortiz said he expected several more arrests of
current or former officers and did not rule out charges against
officers of other departments.

"It's a big investigation," Ortiz said outside U.S. District Court in
Hartford, following a court appearance by one of the accused officers.
"I think what you're seeing here today is just a sampling of what's to
come."

Ortiz said the narcotics unit will be shut down Friday and drug
investigations will be turned over to the statewide narcotics task
force and detectives and patrol officers in other units.

The department will assign new leaders to the detective bureau and
assess its rules, guidelines and training, said Ortiz and New Haven
Mayor John DeStefano.

"We've got to basically start from the very beginning," Ortiz said.
"We're not going to miss a beat as far as fighting crime and narcotics
in New Haven."

The two officers and three bail bondsmen were arrested Tuesday in an
eight-month investigation by federal and state authorities that
included phone wiretaps and nearly 200 conversations recorded by an
undercover officer. Federal agents raided police headquarters and
several homes.

Lt. William White, the head of the narcotics unit, was charged with
stealing nearly $30,000 in what he thought was drug money, but was
actually cash planted by the FBI at investigation scenes. He was also
accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from the bail
bondsmen in return for capturing fugitives who skipped bail.

White, 63, was freed from federal custody on Wednesday after several
relatives put up their homes as collateral to post the $2 million bond
set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith.

White's wife, Nancy, pleaded with Smith to set bail and not order him
detained during the court case. She promised that her husband would
show up for his court appearances.

"My husband is a wonderful man. He has spent his entire life devoted
to his family," she said. "We need him home with us
desperately."

Nancy White added that relatives always go to "Uncle Billy" when they
have a problem.

Federal prosecutor David Ring asked the judge to confine White to his
home with electronic monitoring, but Smith declined, saying the
prospect of relatives losing their homes would be enough to ensure
White appears in court. Smith set a probable cause hearing for April
2.

"If he does not show up, a lot of people are going to suffer a whole
lot of hurt," Smith said.

The judge also said he believed the evidence against White was
overwhelming, and he expected the officer to serve prison time if convicted.

White referred questions to his attorney, Hubert Santos, who declined
comment after the hearing.

Santos told the judge that White is a 39-year veteran of the
department who has received numerous awards and honors.

"He obviously had a very important and productive career with New
Haven police," Santos said.

Smith had ordered White detained on Tuesday pending a psychological
exam, in concern over comments White made that indicated he might harm
himself. Results of that testing were not released.

White and members of his family hugged and cried after the judge
decided to set bail. His mother, two sons, daughter and several other
relatives also attended the hearing.

Narcotics Detective Justen Kasperzyk, 34, was also arrested, charged
with stealing less than $1,000 in money planted by the FBI. He was
also accused of taking $800 from the girlfriend of a suspect arrested
by narcotics officers.

Both White and Kasperzyk have been placed on paid leave pending the
results of the prosecution.

The three New Haven bail bondsmen - Robert Jacobs, 79, and his sons,
Paul Jacobs, 48, and Philip Jacobs, 47 - are charged with bribery
conspiracy, accused of paying tens of thousands of dollars to White
and other officers to apprehend fugitives who skipped bail.
Prosecutors said the bondsmen posted the fugitives' bonds and were at
risk of losing a lot of money if they were not caught.

Kasperzyk and the bondsmen posted bail on Tuesday. They also have
probable cause hearings scheduled for April 2.

DeStefano said he continued to have confidence in Ortiz.

"This was such outrageous behavior," DeStefano said. "There's nothing
that suggests to me this is a systemic or institutional problem."
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