Sunday, February 17, 2013

Corruption Scandal Shocks, Saddens Metro Law Enforcement



By Bill Torpy and Steve Visser

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  

All eight Forest Park police sergeants were called to the department Tuesday for routine training. Victor Middlebrook and Andrew Monroe, two solid officers recently promoted to sergeant, were teamed up and told to head to their training station. 

 They then walked into a room filled with federal agents and their boss, Chief Dwayne Hobbs, who was having one of the worst days of his 40-year career. The two sergeants were being arrested, accused of being part of a group of Atlanta area officers who allegedly served as bodyguards for agents posing as drug dealers. 

 Hobbs was flummoxed when federal agents briefed him on the charges earlier in the month. The gregarious Middlebrook, 44, was admired by the community and two years ago was voted by his comrades as the department’s Officer of the Year. Monroe, 57, was a ramrod-straight former military man with 11 years on the force. But the two allegedly received $24,000 last fall to stand guard for what they thought were multi-kilo cocaine deals. 

“What’s most egregious was they were doing it behind the badge, which makes it worse in my book,” said Hobbs. “It was sickening to think that two weeks ago I trusted those guys. And to some extent it makes you look around and say, ‘Who else?’ 

” Police officers in six different metro departments and in the Federal Protective Services are likely processing many of the same confusing thoughts. Seven metro area officers, two former DeKalb County jailers and a federal contract officer all allegedly sold their badges. 

 A close examination by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of affidavits, court files and interviews with police officials shows that several of the officers arrested last week were eager to be corrupted. 

The charges are the most widespread case of police corruption seen in metro Atlanta in years. In 1996, a group of Atlanta officers, mostly from Zone 3 in Grant Park, were convicted of shaking down drug dealers. And six years ago, several Atlanta narcotics officers were convicted on corruption charges after a 92-year-old woman was killed in an illegal raid. 

 But those two scandals were limited to corrupt cops in the same unit. In the current case, the corruption has metastasized among a much wider, more disperse group of officers. 

 The accused come from the DeKalb County Police Department, as well as forces from Stone Mountain, Atlanta, Forest Park and MARTA. Some had problems with alcohol or domestic issues. Many had financial problems. At least three — including Middlebrook — have filed for bankruptcy. 

Last week’s charges were shocking. Officers often guarded the illicit transactions while in uniform, sometimes even using their patrol cars as a bonus. Payments ranged from several hundred to a few thousand dollars. Some eagerly helped plot the operations, gave suggestions to make them go more smoothly and even talked about the stark possibility they might have to shoot someone. After hearing two such violent suggestions last month, federal authorities shut down the 18-month operation. 

Five civilians were also arrested in the sting, allegedly helping hook up the street gang with the cops. 

The operation started in August 2011, when a street gang associate told agents for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that some Atlanta area cops served as bodyguards for drug deals. Investigators say a dirty cop standing guard during a drug exchange is a valuable asset for dealers, ensuring they will not be robbed by other criminals or busted by the law. 

The informant put the word out among gangdom for cops to provide protection. Three civilians — Jerry Mannery Jr., 38, of Tucker, and Shannon Bass, 38, and Elizabeth Coss, 35, of Atlanta — allegedly stepped up, saying they had the names of such cops. 

DeKalb Police Officer Dennis Duren was allegedly the first, meeting with Bass and the informant Oct. 3, 2011, at a Stone Mountain IHOP to plan their operation. The next day, the trio met two undercover agents at a nearby Publix parking lot and exchanged 3 kilos of fake cocaine for cash. Duren allegedly strolled the lot in uniform, guarding the deal. 

Seemingly, Duren got shorted his first time out. The informant allegedly gave Bass $2,200 for his work in the deal. Bass told the informant he was keeping $1,500 for himself and would give the officer just $700. 

But Duren couldn’t object. Chief Hobbs said once an officer accepts a bribe, there’s no going back. “If that officer says yes (to joining corrupt activities), then that other person owns you for the rest of your life,” he said. 

 A day later, Bass, Duren and the informant met again at IHOP to evaluate the transaction. Duren and the informant agreed the exchange didn’t go down “quickly enough to avoid detection,” an affidavit states. Later, Duren allegedly agreed to bring his squad car while guarding drug deals. But he needed a bonus: $3,000, not the agreed upon $2,200. 

Duren allegedly took part in four deals with 3 kilos of fake cocaine each time. 

 By the following April, the enterprise was apparently pulling in eager and even ambitious cops. Mannery allegedly said he had three cops for the operation, including Stone Mountain Police Officer Denoris Carter. 

Carter, 42, had worked at the 16-officer force for two years since being laid off from East Point during cutbacks. A uniformed Carter allegedly sat in his patrol car guarding a deal on the edge of town. Later, Carter allegedly used his squad car to provide escort service to a dealer driving 10 kilos to a deal. 

Carter, a training officer well-versed in working with procedures, was apparently eager to please. At one meeting at an Applebee’s, the officer asked the informant if he was satisfied with his services, especially the escort. It seemed that Carter got comfortable, even brazen in his dealing. Authorities say that one drug deal took place in front of Bev’s Place, an eatery on Main Street in the small town. During the deal, Carter allegedly stood in uniform near his patrol car in the parking lot. 

By early this year, the participants in the operation were going beyond eager to almost aggressive. 

On Jan. 3, Monyette McLaurin, 37, a former DeKalb jail officer who had been recruited, allegedly told Bass that he would shoot the buyer at the drug deal if necessary. All he needed was a signal. 

McLaurin had quit working at the jail in April 2011, picked up a DUI later that year in Gwinnett County and is upside down in debt with more than $500,000 in mortgages on properties worth substantially less than when he bought them in the mid-2000s. A 2011 bankruptcy filing said he had $399,653 in general unsecured debts. 

 Attorney and former police officer Bill McKenney said financially squeezed cops can be vulnerable, especially those who grow close to informants or people they meet while working extra jobs at clubs. 

“The bad guys know the financial situation of officers,” he said. “They’re going to go pick somebody out of the herd who is weak and financially susceptible.” 

“At least one of them was known to be a little too friendly with the bad guys,” McKenney said of those arrested. “If he was working a club and they would come in, he would go over and shake hands with them or exchange a couple of hugs.”

 In mid-January the sting operation got potentially dangerous, authorities said, when DeKalb Police Officer Dorian Williams, 25, allegedly entered the operation. Williams allegedly asked for a premium — $6,000 — for wearing his uniform and driving his squad car during the drug deals. 

On Jan. 24, he allegedly drove his squad car to an Ingles on Rockbridge Road and guarded a drug deal. Days later, he allegedly instructed Bass to quickly leave with the cocaine if anybody got shot. 

Then, feds say, their sting got scary. On Jan. 30, Williams sat at an Applebee’s and talked about what should happen if other cops rolled up on the deal. Authorities say he suggested transactions should take place at a high school parking lot because backpacks would not draw suspicion. 

Bass told him the next deal would have a new buyer. “Williams then explained that he may have to shoot this new buyer if things do not go well, saying, ‘I gotta (expletive) kill him. I just can’t shoot him.’ ” 

Two days later, Williams allegedly sat watch in a Sam’s Club parking lot while another deal went down. The feds then pulled the plug on the operation. 

 Last week, local department chiefs had to help perform a dreaded job — arrest one of their own. 

 At the Stone Mountain department, Chief Chancey Troutman called Carter into his office, where agents grabbed him and put him under arrest. “He looked stunned and dropped his head,” Troutman said. “He couldn’t do anything but cooperate. They interviewed him for two and a half hours.

” Told that many of those arrested had money problems, Troutman responded, “I think all of us have cash problems — I know I do — but I go out and work an extra job. And I’m the chief of police.

” Then Troutman rounded up his troops. The next shift was ready, so he gave them a pep talk. 

“You are going to hear people say bad things about you and call you a dirty cop, a crooked cop,” he told them. “Hold your head up and do your job.”

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was told many years ago by a good supervisor to watch your back when going into situations, especially a drug house. It is good to lead your troops in. However, when entering a known drug location you never know if the officer behind you is going to have an " accidental discharge" into the back of your head. Maybe that officer is on the take and may have that "accidental discharge." A case for leading from behind. Sad that we have those among us who we can't trust. It is sad that the commissioners keep doing things that reduce our take home pay without the hope of merit increases anytime soon. The weak become desperate and vulnerable and some officers chose to violate their oath of office.

Anonymous said...

Think about what your parents and children would think before you comment a crime. I work for the County and Citizen's offer money all the time for favors, atleast you think their Citizen's. I'm so broke and the extra money has never tempted me. I think about my family, my children, my job, and being on the news.

Once you get caught, please don't hang your head low, be proud you low-life.

15 minutes of shame.

I rather have 15 minutes of FAME.

Anonymous said...

The next Chief is Cedric Alexander current TSA Director

Anonymous said...

We need a policy like most other depts where free food, etc is prohibited so NO inpropriatey can be suggested.

Anonymous said...

Very sad working around perps!!!

Anonymous said...

They should have had Crow's elite head this investigation. One call that's all. Yeah right.....pathetic ....

Anonymous said...

4:34 PM
Please learn normal english--to "comment" a crime is actually a half educated response. If your are a real police officer, please for the rest of us learn how to speak and type proper english. Do you know how stupid it sounds when we are responsible for reports and charges against people to not even know how to comprehend basic grammer?


Anonymous said...

Dont act suprised. You commissioners, and the voters who elected them, have lowered the hiring standards to where just about anybody can be a DeKalb Police Officer. Then, you lowered the pay and benefits to where we are all living paycheck to paycheck and created an even more hostile work environment, that I did not even think was possible 10 years ago. Your older, retired officers, those who served you with HONOR...your wealth of knowledge, integrity and leadership...are treated like trash, and barely survive on a meager pension, with no hope of an increase.
Yall cut the tree down, so why do you act supised when there is no shade? Be happy with your decisions. Bask in the sunlight of the new DeKalb. Its better dont you think?
A retired and starving DEKALB officer.

Anonymous said...

Anon FEBRUARY 17, 2013 AT 2:52 PM,

I read your post and felt sick to my stomach. That never crossed my mind... Even worse is the realization that I worked with a number of the officers who have been arrested and/or fired over the past few years AND, I was shocked in most cases.

Years ago, before I became a police officer....I came home after I had been burglarized. I remember that same sick feeling after the 911 operator asked, "are they gone?..." (I didn't know if they were gone and, in my shock at the break in.....I hadn't thought about it.) It was a real "Oh Sh_ _ moment" for me.

Anonymous said...

10:33, what did they investigate you for?

Anonymous said...

To those officers involved in this roundup, was it worth it to destroy your career, family, life and self respect for a few thousand dollars? Eventually not because where you finally landed.

From an outsiders point of view, what in the world were you thinking? You have thoroughly destroyed the badge you wore to "serve and protect" the citizens of the country. You will never again be trusted for anything, some of you might not see the outside every again. so again, the question arises.....Was it worth it?

I am a retired officer and very glad this stupidity had never approached me in my career.

Good luck to all of you currently on the job, but most important, do become entangled in this stupid selfish act of destroying your life

Anonymous said...

@ 0900am, For doing my job. Something they don't know how to do other than surf the web and look at facebook. ..

Anonymous said...

Sad indeed! Connections while working at the clubs, imagine that. Complaints have been made about these shady club owner's and managers yet our officers continue to stand guard at the doors. Prostitution, drugs, gambling, etc. going on right behind their backs. Yet the mighty cash is more important than doing your damn job and enforcing the laws. You obstruct other agencies when they come by doing their jobs all because you are indebted to that damn part time. I know we all need the extra cash being s**t on constantly by our employer but we have to take a little pride and understand that just because it is a cash paying part-time it does not mean that you are there to be their buddy or personal slave. Many have become more worried about the club that they work at than the 10 hrs. while on duty. Time to screen these assignments more closely and rotate part-time jobs on a routine basis. This cuts down on the personal connections. Its not just the clubs but security details, shopping centers, apartments, etc. Should be on a rotational basis and through the department only. Lotta guys out there pulling down 40 plus hours each weekend on part time. Makes you a prisoner to the system very rapidly.

LoFlyer said...

Anon 9:48, well said.
For any of you pondering extra cash for "extra-curricular" activities.
The best I saw was a gal who took home 75 grand.I met her on the elevator after her court hearing, and she was all smiles.
She lost her job of approximately 50-60 grand for three years of pocket change.
I beg of you not to fall into this trap.
My argument is that the income will not match your legal salary. You will eventually get caught, lose your job and spend a couple of years incarcerated.
It's not fracken' worth it!
Keep the faith guys and gals.
There is a light at the end of tunnel.
Unfortunately for many it is the feds rushing headlong to crush local government corruption, you don't stand a chance.
If you are "dirty" then back out now.
This ain't over by a long shot.
Best regards,
KenC

Anonymous said...

I've been with the department for many, many years and not once have I ever had an Officer approach me to be part of an act like this. I've never been approached to reduce a citation for a officer whose friend or family member received a long copy from me. And, I believe that for the most part, none of you have either to a certain extent. It's all about the company you keep and knowing who you are working with. The department may be in a negative light with the recent events, but I can hold my head high and serve like I swore to do. Just like the majority of you are doing now. I'm not sure if it'll get any better around here in the years to come, but the recent arrests of these azzwholes is a start and for that I'm proud. I'm sure there are more, and if you are one of them, go ahead and turn in your junk before you embarrass yourself and your family. It's not over yet.

Anonymous said...

@ KenC, have you heard anything about the corruption in the Planning department?
I heard their taking money fist over dollars.

Anonymous said...

Of course they are. John Reid is buddies with several club owners. He has even covered for a business owner on Chamblee Tucker Road after it was discovered he was illegally given a license under a grandfather clause. The license should have been denied however due to kick backs the owner was issued a license even though the prior business had been closed down for years making it ineligible for a license under the current grandfather clause. Go figure.... It will soon be revealed.

Anonymous said...

Why do we even have Maximum Occupancy Numbers posted at Bars in DeKalb County ?

Do we still have a Fire Marshall sitting on his ass somewhere ?

Do we still have a Fire Chief sitting on his ass somewhere ?

I know let's just blame it on Code Enforcement !

So we got crooked cops directing the drug trade and evidently Fire n Code allowing any number of patrons to pack these seedy and corrupt bars in DeKalb County !

Somebody Getting Paid Off As Usual ? Well, maybe your ass will be the next "Perp Walk" !


Anonymous said...

In all my years with this department, I have never been more ashamed than I am now. The years of good honest hard working street work, interaction with the public is all for nothing it seems. I know I did my part along with everyone else I worked with. Un fortunately, the good is often times overshadowed by bad. The men and women that I worked with could hold their heads high, but now, not so much. Soon our time will come where we will get to leave. 4-5 years this place will be completely different. You new guys can have it. Good luck fixing the mess left behind. Dont think the mess was created by officers, it was created by the politicians dumbing down our dept. Good luck. I just hope my time goes by quickly and painlessly.

Anonymous said...

Hey WIZ, you want my badge now biznitch?!? Come and get it homie!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This establishment that you speak of definitely was connected with zoning and license. This owner has paid off county officials for years to keep his clubs out of trouble. Also donated to all of the boc campaigns. He always gets his way with planning and zoning anytime he needs something. His management brags that Vice is in their back pockets and that they don't have to worry. WSB news really dropped the ball when they covered this establishment and then all of a sudden they were legal. Should look into how this came about. CASH!!!!!

Anonymous said...

To 2:40 pm it also may be the disgruntled secretary that was recently fired from planning. She also had a beef with each one of these people and positions. Still trying to stir up trouble after new leadership took the trash out!

Anonymous said...

2:40PM, That guy is mad he lost his part time job when a new owner came in so now he accuses everyone associated with that owner of being corrupt when he's the one who blocked north morning watch from coming into his part time job and checking permits.

Anonymous said...

@anon 5:38 so what your saying is because somebody won an appeal they paid somebody off? That's crazy. So anybody that has ever made a campaign donation to any member of the boc or any member of public office is corrupt? That sounds about right! So everybody that has ever donated to a cause or a campaign is corrupt in your eyes. I wonder if this club owner ever donated to the president? He must have him in his back pocket as well. His management must have the secret service and congress in his back pocket. Man I gotta meet this guy maybe he can get us a raise? I really think you should grow up for 5 months you have been saying the same thing. It's getting old. Get a life!

Anonymous said...

Vice aren't the only ones who can enforce laws on the clubs. North morning watch does it from time to time, but they got blocked at a door one time by someone who loves to point his fingers at everyone else.

Anonymous said...

I don't remember one episode of Miami Vice where Tubs and Crockett walked into a bar and asked for everyone's alcohol permits and made sure no one was dancing next to a pool table.

Anonymous said...

@ 5:41pm, just because some get fired does that mean they are disgruntle? How do you know the secretary didn't quit? I bet you work in that department and the one taking money.

Anonymous said...

1:42AM,

It's called English. Learn to speak and write it properly if you want people to take you seriously.

Anonymous said...

Not a cop, not a county employee, not a campaign contributor, but I am a tax paying, voting member of this community and I am not shocked but certainly saddened by this latest scandal. For many reasons. I'm glad that they were caught and arrested. I would like to believe that their illegal activities were due to stress, low wages, not enough hours, reduced pensions, benefits, etc.- but I don't- I believe that it's about greed and power.
DeKalb County removed the phrase ' TO PROTECT AND SERVE ' from our police cars and that signaled a change in the way DCPD did business. If to protect and serve was no longer your job, then what was it? It appears that the officers were left to define their mission and we have seen the results over the last 10 years. So here we are.
Every cop that knows of a dirty cop and allows it to stand is just a guilty of the corruption.

Anonymous said...

To 1:42am oh yea that secretary got fired. She had quite a history of being disgruntled. Previous management covered for her over and over. Just ask the DeKalb Officer that used to work there about the back cubicle.

Anonymous said...

Looks like they all had something in common.

Anonymous said...

To those "MANAGERS" that went along with this blatantly corrupt administration you are JUST as guilty as the corrupt officers arrested taking brides from criminals. The only difference is you took promotions, perks, etc for preventing the arrest of Sutton on a valid warrant (Dereliction OF Duty), putting officers in jeopardy by eliminating their back-up with your revenue generating agenda (Negligent Staffing), etc., etc., etc... YOUR day of reckoning is coming I PROMISE!

Anonymous said...

I HOPE ALL "THE REAL POLICE" CAN HANG ON ! MAYBE THIS NEW GUY WILL SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE "ALL OF YOU". STILL SAMEY,SAME . 10% OF THE OFFICERS , DOING 90% OF ALL THE WORK .

Anonymous said...

AGAIN, THIS OBVIOUS "DIFFERENT RACIAL INTRODUCTIONS/GREETING IS NOTHING NEW. I,VE HAD "PROTECTED CLASS" POLITICIANS ,CHIEFS,GENERALS,SUPERVISORS,COMPLETELY,INTENTIONALLY IGNORE ME BECAUSE OF MY RACE IF "OTHERS WERE AROUND". I EVEN WENT UP TO THE H.M.F.I.C.,'S OFFICE AND GOT DEAD IN THAT ASS FOR PUNKING ME OUT WITH RACIAL STATEMENTS AT A C.E.O. MEETING . THE ASST. CHIEF THAT VERY TIMIDLY FOLLOWED ME UP THERE ALMOST FAINTED DURING THE "CONFRONTATION". MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN , "YOU CAN RUN ME,YOU CAN BEAT ME,YOU CAN STARVE ME, YOU CAN KILL ME. JUST DON'T DISRESPECT ME" !! EVERYBODY ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS A "22 I " ,BUT NOBODY BOTHERED ME EITHER . THEY ALL KNEW IF THE COULDN'T USE BASIC RESPECT ,THEY BETTER USE A LOT OF CAUTION . THE DAYS OF "LEADING BY INTIMIDATION" , STOPPED AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION" WAS SPAWNED .BULLYING,INEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP WAS HANDLED IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY IN "THE NAM" ! I KNOW THAT THE BATTLE CRY OF THE PROTECTED IS, " I'LL SUE, I'LL SUE", IS THE TERROR OF ALL THE TIMID ,WEAK KNEED SUPERVISORS ,BUT "REAL POLICE" HAVE TO BE THE LAST BAND OF BROTHERS/SISTERS AND STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. WHY HELL, YALL ARE THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE DEPARTMENT AFLOAT. IT'S NOT YALL'S FAULT ! IT STARTS WITH THE WORTHLESS RECRUITING POLICIES,THE HAMSTRUNG I.A.,BACKGROUND UNIT,S EFFORTS,THE UTTER JOKE THAT MOST OF THE F.T.O. PROGRAM HAS TURNED INTO , AND LACK OF SERGEANT DISCIPILINARY ACTION BACKING . MOSTLY THESE "SCARED LT'S AND ABOVE" HAVE CREATED THIS MONSTER. "MY GOD",SOME OF MY OLD LIMP D*@K SUPERVISORS USED TO WHINE ABOUT ME "RUNNING WILD, TERRORIZING THE VILLAGE". I WAS JUST BEING " A REAL POLICE" . ( UHHH, KICKING ASS AND TAKING NAMES) .BUT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH SUPERVISORS WHO DIDN'T HAD THE STOMACH FOR THIS JOB AND THEY STILL DON'T.(NEVER DID ANYTHING/NEVER HAVE/NEVER WILL).A MAN HAS GOT TO KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS. NOT WANTING TO BE A RAT AND DOING THE RIGHT THING WILL BITE YOU IN THE ASS. TRUST ME . THAT'S ANOTHER STORY FOR LATER. I 'VE SEEN ALL THE GOOD AND ALL THE BAD THESE SO CALLED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DONE. WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO THE NUT CUTTING YOU HAVE TO CIRCLE THE WAGONS AND PROTECT YOU AND YOURS . LIKE THE OLD INDIAN SAYING GOES,"LIKE MANY,TRUST FEW,PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE" . BE SAFE OUT THERE .