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Philadelphia Police officer Linwood Norman |
The city of brotherly love is hanging its head down in shame after six Philadelphia Police officers were indicted Wednesday morning.
"I have been a police officer for more than 40 years and this is one of the worst cases of corruption that I have ever heard," said
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, after a 26-count federal indictment was announced, naming six of his officers, all of whom have been arrested and charged with among other crimes, kidnapping, drug dealing, robbery, extortion, and conspiracy.
According to the federal indictment, Philadelphia Police narcotics officers Michael Spicer, Thomas Liciardello, Linwood Norman, John Speicer, Brian Reynolds, and Perry Betts kidnapped, extorted, and robbed drug dealers between February 2006 and November of 2012.
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Philadelphia Police officer John Speiser |
The six would then falsify police reports in order to cover up their actions.
At the press conference, U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said that the Philadelphia Police narcotics officers would regularly pull over vehicles of suspected drug dealers, as well as illegally enter their homes without warrants.
Once the officers gained illegal entry into the homes, they stole cash, property, and drugs, then split them among themselves.
Prosecutors credit the cooperation of Philadelphia Police narcotics officer Jeffrey Walker, who pled guilty last February to robbery, stemming from an incident last year in which he used a gun to rob a suspected drug dealer of $15,000 in cash and drugs.
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Philadelphia Police officer Michael Spicer |
According to prosecutors, Philadelphia Police narcotics officer Jeffrey Walker began cooperating with them immediately after his arrest.
"Words just don't describe the degree in which this has brought discredit upon not only these individual officers, but their families, the police department, the entire city, and the profession of policing," Commossioner Ramsey said.
The six Philadelphia Police narcotics officers stole more than $500,000 in cash, drugs, and property.
There are 22 separate incidents outlined in the federal indictment.
October 16, 2007
Philadelphia Police narcotics officers Brian Reynolds and Thomas Liciardello, along woth officer Jeffrey Walker, stopped a vehicle and seized $30,000 from a man identified in the federal indictment as R.K.
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Philadelphia Police officer Brian Reynolds |
It was then, while R.K. was being heldc, that the three officers went to his residence, entered without a warrant, and confiscated a safe containing $80,000, which they stole and split.
November 26, 2007
Philadelphia Police narcotics officer Linwood Norman lifted a man, identified in the indictment as N.C., off his feet and leaned N.C. over an 18-story balcony railing while officer Thomas Liciardello, Perry Betts, John Spicer and Norman stole $8,000 in cash and property.
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Philadelphia Police officer Gary Betts |
February 7, 2008
Philadehia Police narcotics officer Thomas Liciardello and some of the other officers broke into a residence where officer Liciardello then threatened to shoot the resident, identified as J.L., in an effort to steal $16,000.
According to the federal indictment, on September 6, 2009 officer Linwood Norman and officer Walker stole several kilograms of cocaine, which they then distributed.
February 24, 2010
Philadelphia Police officers Michael Spicer punched victim J.K. in the mouth, then dangled J.K. off a balcony 35 feet off the ground while officer Liciardello, Reynolds, and Betts stole approximately $79,000 and a Calvin Klein suit.
February 24, 2010
Philadelphia Police officers Michael Spicer punched victim J.K. in the mouth, then dangled J.K. off a balcony 35 feet off the ground while officer Liciardello, Reynolds, and Betts stole approximately $79,000 and a Calvin Klein suit.
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Philadelphia Police officer Thomas Liciardello |
June 23, 2011
The officers then stole $34,000.
The federal indictment also outlines a long list of criminal conduct by the six Philadelphia Police officers including conspiring to violate individuals of their civil rights, RICO conspiracy, Hobbs Act ribbery, extortion, using a firearm during a violent crime, falsifying records, and posession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
If convicted, the Philadelphia Police officers face maximum sentences of 40 years to life in prison.
I just wonder how many innocent people are in prison as a result of these dirty cops setting them up.
