Busted cops called themselves the "untouchables"
The Baltimore cops called themselves the "untouchables group" and talked in thinly-veiled code, referring to alleged payoffs as "coffee," according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI. They complained about being broke and demanded expedited payments. They made disparaging remarks about the people they were supposed to protect.
Phone conversations and streams of text messages intercepted during a corruption investigation caught police officers in unguarded moments — raw chats laced with profanities and describing meetings in convenience store parking lots to collect money, sometimes with officers pulling up in marked squad cars.
Parts of the wiretaps are quoted in a 41-page indictment unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court. They are an integral part of an investigation that became public with the arrests of 17 Baltimore police officers charged with getting kickbacks for steering accident victims to a single car repair shop on Rosedale.
Here's one conversation (see full story for more):
"You already know," the owner replied.
The officer professed ignorance.
"Two-fifty," the owner told him, explaining the rules of the game further. "It's not just a matter of calling me. You have to make sure the car gets to the shop."
Later, the same officer seeks more information. "The man here tells me that the way you work is that if I get you a little car with a little soup on it, then you release something on the side?
"Yes, yes," came the answer. "But it's better that we speak in person."
Comments
Those BP officer,were getting pay. This latest event of our outstanding police officer only will make me increase my distrust in police in general.Having experience profile,harassment. I do respect the law,however those are allot more those who been caught.
Posted by: Cedric D Smith | February 25, 2011 10:59 AM
@Cedric - you say there are more dirty police. If you have information you should report it, but if you are just saying there are more because of your lack of trust for police, than you are no better than those that profiled you. Like an elderly white lady that crosses the street when she sees a black man walking toward her, and on her side of the street, she shouldn't assume all black men are crooks and you shouldn't assume all police are bad. When you do, you are no better than they (the bad cops) are. The truth is most cops will always do the right the thing, would risk their lives going into burning buildings, gun fights, and anything else that most would run from, and for what? to save the life of someone they don't even know. Real man sitting at your computer calling them names
Posted by: Ken | February 26, 2011 1:20 AM