Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 23, 2007 11:15:02 GMT -5
Four veteran Hollywood police officers have been charged in a federal investigation of organized crime and drugs, sources with knowledge of the case said Thursday.
The four sources confirmed for the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel that Detective Kevin Companion, 41; Sgt. Jeffry Courtney, 51; Officer Stephen Harrison, 46; and Detective Thomas Simcox, 50, have been charged by federal authorities. The officers provided protection and ran drugs and money for FBI agents posing as an organized crime group, according to The Associated Press, which cited an unnamed law enforcement source.
Companion, Courtney and Harrison were being held at the federal detention center in Miami, according to officials there. Detention officials declined to say what the exact charges were.
Simcox had not surrendered to authorities as of Thursday night, according to his attorney, Bruce Udolf, who declined to comment further. Efforts to reach attorneys Mel Black and Rene Sotorrio, who represent two of the other officers, were unsuccessful late Thursday. It was not known whether the fourth officer had an attorney.
Each of the four officers has been employed by the department for more than 10 years. At least three have gotten into previous trouble as officers.
Hollywood police declined to discuss the matter, as did the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI in Miami could not be reached for comment Thursday night, despite a message left on a spokesman's cell phone.
Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti called the matter "an embarrassment." She said she was made aware of the federal investigation weeks ago and found the evidence she has been made privy to "irrefutable."
"There is some information in their own words. To me it looks pretty incontrovertible," Giulianti said. She declined to elaborate. "Clearly, if the allegations are true -- and I've got no reason to believe they are not from what I've seen -- it does appear that they have truly dishonored their badge, I believe ruined their lives and harmed their families immeasurably. It's a sad day."
Barbara Duffy, an attorney for the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, said she wasn't aware of the charges, but urged people not to jump to conclusions.
"They're innocent until proven guilty like anybody else," Duffy said. "I don't know the issues involved yet but let's give them that."
Companion, who comes from a long line of police officers, joined the department in 1986.
In 1994, a former Hollywood officer sued the department, saying Companion and others sexually harassed her. The woman won the lawsuit and the city had to pay her $205,000, though it admitted no wrongdoing.
Companion was later lauded for building bridges with Hollywood's Liberia neighborhood, the community hardest hit by crime in the mid-90s. Companion was known to hand out candy to children while on duty and collect clothes for the homeless.
Courtney was hired by Hollywood police in 1991, despite two arrests on charges of driving while intoxicated. It was not known whether he was convicted. He also accidentally shot a sergeant in Pembroke Pines while he was an officer there.
In 1995, a large-scale investigation by the department found widespread problems with its hiring and disciplinary practices.
Simcox, the longest-serving officer of the four, was hired in 1982.
In 1996, he was convicted of grabbing and slapping a 9-year-old boy at a day care center while off duty after the child mocked him.
Simcox was convicted of battery by a jury, fined and suspended from the department for a month without pay for the incident. His fellow officers, many of whom thought the suspension was too harsh, raised money so Simcox could pay his bills during the suspension.
Harrison was hired in 1997 after leaving the Broward Sheriff's Office. According to published reports, Harrison has been known to compete in boxing matches on behalf of the department for charity. Harrison and two other Hollywood officers won the 2002 statewide 911 Fitness Challenge, which combined fitness, discipline and teamwork.
Giulianti said that the arrests don't shake her faith in Chief Jim Scarberry or the department, which has approximately 330 sworn officers.
"It may take years before some of the problems that were caused by others come to the surface," she said. "It's not the fault of the good men and women that are there."
Details of the charges are expected to be released this morning after a federal court hearing in Fort Lauderdale.
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cofficers23feb23,0,7665785.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
The four sources confirmed for the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel that Detective Kevin Companion, 41; Sgt. Jeffry Courtney, 51; Officer Stephen Harrison, 46; and Detective Thomas Simcox, 50, have been charged by federal authorities. The officers provided protection and ran drugs and money for FBI agents posing as an organized crime group, according to The Associated Press, which cited an unnamed law enforcement source.
Companion, Courtney and Harrison were being held at the federal detention center in Miami, according to officials there. Detention officials declined to say what the exact charges were.
Simcox had not surrendered to authorities as of Thursday night, according to his attorney, Bruce Udolf, who declined to comment further. Efforts to reach attorneys Mel Black and Rene Sotorrio, who represent two of the other officers, were unsuccessful late Thursday. It was not known whether the fourth officer had an attorney.
Each of the four officers has been employed by the department for more than 10 years. At least three have gotten into previous trouble as officers.
Hollywood police declined to discuss the matter, as did the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI in Miami could not be reached for comment Thursday night, despite a message left on a spokesman's cell phone.
Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti called the matter "an embarrassment." She said she was made aware of the federal investigation weeks ago and found the evidence she has been made privy to "irrefutable."
"There is some information in their own words. To me it looks pretty incontrovertible," Giulianti said. She declined to elaborate. "Clearly, if the allegations are true -- and I've got no reason to believe they are not from what I've seen -- it does appear that they have truly dishonored their badge, I believe ruined their lives and harmed their families immeasurably. It's a sad day."
Barbara Duffy, an attorney for the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, said she wasn't aware of the charges, but urged people not to jump to conclusions.
"They're innocent until proven guilty like anybody else," Duffy said. "I don't know the issues involved yet but let's give them that."
Companion, who comes from a long line of police officers, joined the department in 1986.
In 1994, a former Hollywood officer sued the department, saying Companion and others sexually harassed her. The woman won the lawsuit and the city had to pay her $205,000, though it admitted no wrongdoing.
Companion was later lauded for building bridges with Hollywood's Liberia neighborhood, the community hardest hit by crime in the mid-90s. Companion was known to hand out candy to children while on duty and collect clothes for the homeless.
Courtney was hired by Hollywood police in 1991, despite two arrests on charges of driving while intoxicated. It was not known whether he was convicted. He also accidentally shot a sergeant in Pembroke Pines while he was an officer there.
In 1995, a large-scale investigation by the department found widespread problems with its hiring and disciplinary practices.
Simcox, the longest-serving officer of the four, was hired in 1982.
In 1996, he was convicted of grabbing and slapping a 9-year-old boy at a day care center while off duty after the child mocked him.
Simcox was convicted of battery by a jury, fined and suspended from the department for a month without pay for the incident. His fellow officers, many of whom thought the suspension was too harsh, raised money so Simcox could pay his bills during the suspension.
Harrison was hired in 1997 after leaving the Broward Sheriff's Office. According to published reports, Harrison has been known to compete in boxing matches on behalf of the department for charity. Harrison and two other Hollywood officers won the 2002 statewide 911 Fitness Challenge, which combined fitness, discipline and teamwork.
Giulianti said that the arrests don't shake her faith in Chief Jim Scarberry or the department, which has approximately 330 sworn officers.
"It may take years before some of the problems that were caused by others come to the surface," she said. "It's not the fault of the good men and women that are there."
Details of the charges are expected to be released this morning after a federal court hearing in Fort Lauderdale.
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cofficers23feb23,0,7665785.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines