Pubdate: Thu, 29 Mar 2007
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2007 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Brian Haas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

BROWARD DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TAKING COCAINE, USING IT ON DUTY

A Broward Sheriff's Office patrol deputy was arrested after taking 
cocaine and another drug from what he thought was an abandoned car 
and then using the cocaine while on duty, authorities said Wednesday.

Robert Delaney Jr., 41, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possessing 
cocaine and oxycodone. Delaney is free on $10,000 bond but has been 
suspended without pay, said Elliot Cohen, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

Delaney couldn't be reached and it was unclear Wednesday whether he 
had hired an attorney. Delaney joined the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea 
Police Department in 1995 and later the Sheriff's Office when it 
absorbed the department in 2001. His personnel file reflects positive 
reviews and several commendations from commanders and citizens.

According to Delaney's arrest report, the investigation into his 
conduct began after a confidential informant told the Sheriff's 
Office in February that Delaney had been buying and using cocaine. 
Detectives set up a sting by staging an abandoned vehicle investigation.

On Tuesday, detectives put 4 grams of cocaine and six pills of 
oxycodone, an opiate-based painkiller, in a car in the 2200 block of 
West Sample Road. They set up a surveillance unit across the street 
and monitored video and audio in the staged car.

The Sheriff's Office then dispatched Delaney to investigate the car. 
According to the report, Delaney rifled through the car, pocketed the 
drugs and then tried to wipe the interior of the vehicle with a towel 
to eliminate fingerprints. He left without documenting his 
investigation or telling his supervisors that drugs were found, the 
report said.

Detectives followed Delaney during the rest of his shift and 
confronted him a few hours later.

According to the report, Delaney admitted to detectives that he 
ingested some of the cocaine shortly after leaving the abandoned car, 
still had some of the drugs in his wallet and kept the pills in his 
Sheriff's Office patrol car. While following Delaney, the detectives 
did not know he had taken cocaine, the report said.

Cohen said detectives have seen no evidence that Delaney's illegal 
activities extended beyond a personal drug habit.

"The tip only focused on the fact he was using and purchasing drugs," 
Cohen said.

If convicted of the felony charges, Delaney faces up to 10 years in prison.

Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
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