specsaregood
06-30-2010, 01:35 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100630/NEWS01/6300341/Ex-city-officer-admits-planting-drugs
CAMDEN — A former city police officer on Tuesday said he violated others' civil rights by joining rogue officers who allegedly planted drugs on suspects, robbed suspected drug dealers and conducted improper searches and arrests.
Jason Stetser's guilty plea in federal court in Camden makes him the second city officer to face up to 10 years in prison for a campaign to illegally lock up drug suspects across the city. Fellow patrolman Kevin Parry, who often partnered with Stetser, pleaded guilty in March. Three other officers remain under investigation.
Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said Tuesday there is no evidence the corruption went beyond the five officers.
Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson said Stetser and the others don't represent the department.
"We believe that we have identified, localized and removed the cancer that was within the body of the organization," Thomson said. "I refuse to recognize these individuals as officers. They are criminals."
But Stetser's father, a retired Camden police sergeant, said "there was a lot of good done by these officers."
The father, James Stetser, said he doesn't condone all of his son's actions but believes they were done with the right intent.
"Is what they did absolutely correct? No, it wasn't absolutely correct -- but they were taking numerous drugs and guns off the streets of the city," the elder Stetser said.
An investigation into drug arrests made by the officers resulted in inmates in state prison being released, drug convictions being overturned and pending cases dropped.
In all, the prosecutor's office has dismissed around 200 criminal cases since December of last year.
Noting that many of those arrested had prior criminal histories, James Stetser said the main benefactors of the federal investigation and the mass dismissals seem to be drug dealers and their attorneys.
According to the prosecutor's office, 23 of those who had their criminal cases dropped have since been arrested on separate charges.
CAMDEN — A former city police officer on Tuesday said he violated others' civil rights by joining rogue officers who allegedly planted drugs on suspects, robbed suspected drug dealers and conducted improper searches and arrests.
Jason Stetser's guilty plea in federal court in Camden makes him the second city officer to face up to 10 years in prison for a campaign to illegally lock up drug suspects across the city. Fellow patrolman Kevin Parry, who often partnered with Stetser, pleaded guilty in March. Three other officers remain under investigation.
Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said Tuesday there is no evidence the corruption went beyond the five officers.
Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson said Stetser and the others don't represent the department.
"We believe that we have identified, localized and removed the cancer that was within the body of the organization," Thomson said. "I refuse to recognize these individuals as officers. They are criminals."
But Stetser's father, a retired Camden police sergeant, said "there was a lot of good done by these officers."
The father, James Stetser, said he doesn't condone all of his son's actions but believes they were done with the right intent.
"Is what they did absolutely correct? No, it wasn't absolutely correct -- but they were taking numerous drugs and guns off the streets of the city," the elder Stetser said.
An investigation into drug arrests made by the officers resulted in inmates in state prison being released, drug convictions being overturned and pending cases dropped.
In all, the prosecutor's office has dismissed around 200 criminal cases since December of last year.
Noting that many of those arrested had prior criminal histories, James Stetser said the main benefactors of the federal investigation and the mass dismissals seem to be drug dealers and their attorneys.
According to the prosecutor's office, 23 of those who had their criminal cases dropped have since been arrested on separate charges.