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October 1, 2004 NEWARK
POLICE OFFICERS INDICTED BY STATE GRAND JURY ON Division of Criminal Justice & Newark PD Target Police Corruption Ongoing
Investigations Seek Information From Newark Residents |
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Newark -- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced that the Division of Criminal Justice, in concert with the Newark Police Department, has charged two Newark Police Officers with abusing their office by "shaking-down"and stealing cash and other items from purported drug dealers and other individuals, along with allegations of "planting" drugs on innocent victims to cover the illegal actions. Attorney General Harvey and Newark Police Director Anthony Ambrose said that today's State Grand Jury indictments follow the indictment (Sept. 29) of a Newark police officer on charges of trafficking in illegal drugs and official misconduct and the entry of a guilty plea by another Newark police officer (Sept. 23) to charges that he abused his office by shaking-down and stealing cash from purported drug dealers. Harvey and
Ambrose said the indictments come in the wake of several independent and
ongoing investigations targeting police corruption and misconduct by purported
"rogue" officers in the Newark Police Department - police officers
identified as operating outside police operations and procedures. The
Division of Criminal Justice and Newark Police Department investigations
remain ongoing. The law enforcement officials said that the overwhelming
majority of Newark police officers serve and protect the public welfare
with the goal of making Newark a safer city in which to live and work.
"It is no coincidence that the targets of these allegedly corrupt police officers were drug dealers and others who previously encountered the Newark police. They were targeted for one reason - they would not complain to police and, if they did, they would not be believed," Attorney General Harvey said. "They were wrong. The victims of these alleged shake downs came forward. Other citizens came forward. And, their complaints were heard by the Newark Police Department and the Division of Criminal Justice. This series of indictments and criminal Accusations send a strong message that any police officer who corrupts his or her badge will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted." Director Ambrose said that "the alleged actions of a few officers are having a significant and corrosive impact on the reputation of the more than 1,900 members of the Newark Police Department. Their actions are a disservice to the officers who work tirelessly to ensure the public safety, reduce crime, and improve the quality of life for those who live and work in this proud City." Director Ambrose has initiated immediate internal actions, suspending the indicted police officers and reassigning other police officers identified and alleged in Superior Court proceedings to have knowledge of the illegal activities to administrative duties pending the completion of the investigations. According
to Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, Newark Police
Officer Darius "Red" Smith, 33, Weequehic Ave., Newark, was
charged via a State Grand Jury indictment with conspiracy, official misconduct,
theft, two counts of tampering with public records or information, and
two counts of falsifying records. A second State Grand Jury indictment
charged Newark Police Officer Lawrence Furlow, 43, Eastern Parkway, Newark,
with conspiracy, official misconduct, and theft. Smith, a Newark police
officer since 1993, faces up to 30 years in state prison and $340,000
in fines upon any conviction. Furlow, a Newark police officer since 1996,
faces up to 25 years in state prison and a fine of up to $315,000 upon
any conviction. The second indictment charged that between December, 2001 and December, 2003, Furlow, and other Newark police officers, engaged in criminal acts including official misconduct and theft as part of a conspiracy to steal money from criminal suspects. The indictment charged that Furlow, while on duty and conducting police responsibilities in Newark's West District, obtained more than $500 from purported drug dealers, criminal suspects, and others by "shaking down" the victims and stealing money, drugs and weapons. It is also charged that Smith intentionally "planted" drugs on other victims in order to increase arrest activity and to cover his illegal actions. Attorney General Harvey said that on Sept. 29, a State Grand Jury charged Newark police officer Brandy Johnson, 28, Tuxedo Parkway, Newark, with conspiracy, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school, and hindering apprehension. It is charged that Brandy, a Newark police officer since 1999 and assigned to the West District in Newark, sold approximately 11 grams of cocaine valued at $400 to an undercover State Investigator assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice on April 20. A second indictment charged Johnson's paramour, Khalid Onion, 30, Tuxedo Parkway, Newark, with conspiracy, two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school. On Sept. 23, Newark Police Officer Tryone Dudley, 37, Newark, pleaded guilty before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg to a criminal Accusation which charged one count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct. The Accusation charged that from December, 2002 - April, 2004, Dudley and other Newark police officers engaged in criminal acts including official misconduct, theft, tampering with public records, and falsifying police reports as part of an ongoing conspiracy to steal money from criminal suspects. The Accusation charged that Dudley obtained more than $500 from criminal suspects as part of the conspiracy to steal money. Specifically, the Accusation charged that on Feb. 8, Dudley and other Newark police officers unlawfully entered and unlawfully searched an apartment located at 530A S. 19th St. and, to cover up the illegal activity, filed false reports to police supervisors. The ongoing investigations were conducted by Newark Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau Lt. Umar Hakeem, Sgt. William Thomas, and State Investigator Joseph Waters of the Division of Criminal Justice. The Smith, Furlow and Dudley investigations were coordinated by Assistant Attorney General David Brody and Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades of the Organized Crime & Racketeering Bureau. The Johnson investigation was conducted by Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Ruggerio of the Special Prosecutions Bureau and State Investigator's Chris Harden and Cecil Boone of the Division of Criminal Justice - Narcotics Bureau North Unit. Additional detectives and staff from the Newark Police Department and department's Internal Affairs Bureau assisted in the investigations. In announcing
the indictments and criminal Accusation, Attorney General Harvey and Director
McKoy noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free
"Corruption Tipline" for the public to report corruption, police
misconduct and other illegal activities. The statewide "Crime TipLine"
is: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log-on to the Division
of Criminal Justice Web Page at www.njdcj.org to electronically report
suspected wrongdoing. All information received by the Division of Criminal
Justice will remain confidential. An indictment
is merely a charge and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty in a court of law. |