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Miami Herald - FL,USA
23 February 2007

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Hollywood Police Department, F

Hollywood chief: Probe of poli

A two-year federal undercover probe that led to corruption charges against four Hollywood police officers was shut down prematurely after two of those officers learned they were under investigation, according to Hollywood Police Chief James Scarberry.

More officers are under suspicion, Scarberry said Friday.

The chief said he found out the investigation was blown Thursday -- hours before the FBI swooped in and arrested Officers Kevin Companion, Jeffry Courtney and Stephen Harrison. Officer Thomas Simcox, who is cooperating, was picked up a month ago, Scarberry said.

''We called the FBI immediately yesterday after we found out that Companion and Courtney were at the pension office. They both called in sick all week and were putting in their letters of resignation,'' Scarberry said.

Harrison was unaware of the investigation when he was arrested, Scarberry said.

Federal corruption charges against the officers include a range of criminal activity that includes extortion, bribe-taking, dealing in stolen property, protecting a crooked, high-stakes card game, cargo theft and transporting a multi-kilo load of heroin.

One officer allegedly used his marked police motorcycle to provide a security escort for what he thought was a shipment of $400,000 in proceeds from the sale of stolen diamonds, authorities said.

The officers face maximum sentences of life in prison and fines up to $4 million if convicted on the drug trafficking charges. In addition, they face up to 20 years for each alleged use of their police positions for extortion.

During the two-year probe by the U.S. attorney and the FBI -- dubbed ''Tarnished Badge'' -- undercover agents convinced the officers that they were members of a New York crime family.

LEADER OF THE GROUP

According to agents, Companion, 41 -- a sworn Hollywood officer for more than two decades -- was the leader of the group of crooked cops and recruited the others for illegal capers.

Many of the meetings between Companion and the agents were audiotaped and videotaped, revealing a veteran officer eager to use his badge for illegal profit.

In March 2005, Companion was videotaped meeting with agents at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City.

At that time, agents said they needed more officers and an unmarked police car to protect a large amount of cash collected from the sale of stolen diamonds.

Companion was interested and told them he knew of some ''old-school'' guys whom he could approach for assistance.

In exchange for cash, Companion and others protected the collection of illegal gambling debts and the fencing of stolen watches; they personally delivered $400,000 in bearer bonds and a tractor-trailer full of cigarettes; and they protected a rigged, high-stakes poker game on a yacht.

But the crimes they are accused of did not appear that lucrative, compared to the hefty pensions and retirement benefits that were at risk if the cops were caught.

At a press conference on Friday, U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta indicated that during the investigation, Companion received $42,000; Courtney, 51, received $22,000; Simcox, 50, received $16,000; and Harrison, 46, received $12,000.

''There is some indication from the FBI that other names were brought up in the investigation,'' Scarberry said. ''They were officers they never met but were supposedly also available [to join the criminal scheme] if needed,'' he said.

TO REVIEW TAPES

Scarberry plans to review FBI video and audio tapes that might shed light on which other officers might have been involved, he said.

And an FBI press release confirmed the agency would continue to investigate, ``targeting ongoing corruption within the Hollywood Police Department.''

But that will be harder now that the investigation has been made public.

Scarberry said he knows how Courtney and Companion learned of the investigation, but he declined to discuss it.

''That's part of the FBI's investigation,'' he said.

A ranking federal law enforcement source said Scarberry and his assistant were the only outsiders taken into their confidence. They were told ''in no uncertain terms'' that they must not reveal what they knew, the source said.

But Scarberry immediately told City Manager Cameron Benson about the probe and revealed it to Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti a few days later.

''I think it is appropriate when something this big is happening I know about it,'' Benson said. ``The chief has got to inform me because I am the boss and the mayor is my boss, and I have to let my bosses know.''

UNAWARE OF ORDERS

Benson said he was unaware that Scarberry had been told by the FBI to keep quiet.

Federal agents decided to tell Scarberry about the investigation about a month ago as part of an attempt to get Simcox to flip and cooperate, the federal source said.

Simcox, accompanied by the chief, went to FBI headquarters on a ruse. It wasn't long before Simcox began implicating other officers, the source said.

When the FBI learned Thursday that the targets of their investigation had learned about it, agents moved in quickly.

But Giulianti said the FBI is to blame if there was a leak that limited the agency's chance of snaring more crooked cops.

``To pick up the guy and not follow through . . . is their fault. They put their trust in a criminal.''

Courtney, Harrison and Companion appeared in federal court Friday morning and pleaded not guilty. An arraignment is scheduled for March 15.

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Miami Herald - FL,USA23 February 2007

Hollywood chief: Probe of poli

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Miami Herald - FL,USA
23 February 2007