CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Officials say they've dropped criminal charges in 185 cases involving more than 180 suspects in Camden, N.J. because of an investigation of police misconduct.
One of five officers implicated pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to conspiring with other officers to deprive people of their civil rights. Kevin Parry admitted he planted drugs on suspects, conducted illegal searches, and threatened additional charges for non-cooperation.
Friday's disclosure of the list of cases and Parry's plea represented the first time law enforcement has given any information about the cases since investigation began in November.
At least four of the police officers were suspended then.
The prosecutor's office reviewed more than 400 cases over the last five years in which one of the five was the arresting or investigating officer.
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<<CUT …226 (03/19/10)>> 00:15 "among other actions"
Geoff Mulvihill
AP Correspondent Geoff Mulvihill reports police misconduct has prompted authorities to drop drug charges against a lot of people in Camden, New Jersey.
<<CUT …227 (03/19/10)>> 00:13 "185 of them"
Geoff Mulvihill
AP Correspondent Geoff Mulvihill reports the charges were dropped over the past couple of weeks as authorities reviewed cases that the officers handled.
<<CUT …228 (03/19/10)>> 00:13 "they didn't cooperate"
Geoff Mulvihill
AP Correspondent Geoff Mulvihill reports one police officer has admitted to misconduct.
<<CUT …251 (03/19/10)>> 00:13 "be concerned with"
Yvonne Smith Segars, New Jersey public defender, whose office was involved in dozens of the cases
New Jersey Public Defender Yvonne Smith Segars says the officers' actions were shocking.
<<CUT …252 (03/19/10)>> 00:06 "for some individuals"
Yvonne Smith Segars, New Jersey Public Defender whose office was involved in dozens of the cases
New Jersey Public Defender Yvonne Smith Segars says the cases show that claims of inappropriate behavior by police cannot be dismissed out of hand.
