NYPD ticket-fixing probe: Grand jury votes to indict 17 cops in scandal that's rocked police dept.
Rocco Parascandola, Kevin Deutsch and Larry Mcshane, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Originally Published:Friday, September 23rd 2011, 4:57 PM
Updated: Saturday, September 24th 2011, 9:04 AM
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BRONX grand jury indicted 17 cops yesterday in a massive ticket-fixing scandal that stretched from precinct houses to 1 Police Plaza, sending shock waves through the NYPD.

Grand jurors shook their heads and frowned in disgust as they heard the startling evidence of cops routinely quashing tickets, sources told the Daily News.

The accused officers - including a large number of union delegates - were stunned as they absorbed the reality of their imminent arrests following a two-year probe.

"We knew it was coming, but it's hard to swallow," said one cop close to several of the indicted officers. "When you take this job, you don't ever think you're gonna be on the other end of it."

It was, he said, a "dark day" for the NYPD - and its most sweeping scandal since the Mollen Commission probed crooked cops who robbed drug dealers back in 1992.

The indictments will remain sealed until next week, when the accused officers will be arraigned and the details will emerge, the sources said.

The disgraced cops will get the chance to surrender rather than face humiliating arrests at their homes or stationhouses, the sources told The News.

"They'll have the opportunity to turn themselves in next week," said a source close to the case. "They'll have the weekend to get everything in order."

The probe focused on the city's largest police union, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, and its delegates and trustees.

More than 500 cops were linked to the scandal, and it was expected dozens of officers beyond those indicted could face some sort of departmental discipline.

The indicted cops face charges that include perjury, bribery, obstruction, grand larceny and official misconduct, the sources said.

The News has reported the cops involved helped cover up an assault charge and a domestic assault case, with one cop even taking profits from drug proceeds.

At least eight union officials were facing charges.

Sgt. Raymond Brickley, one of the early targets of the probe, was caught on a wiretap talking about fixing tickets, sources said. Brickley, assigned to the 42nd Precinct, is an official with the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Edward Mullins, head of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said word of the indictments was good news.

"Now the truth is going to come out," Mullins said. "When all is said and done, Ray Brickley will be acquitted of the allegations brought against him."

Joseph Anthony and Michael Hernandez, both Bronx trustees of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, were also caught on wiretaps talking about ticket-fixing.

Defense lawyer Tom Puccio, who represents Anthony, declined comment. Hernandez's attorney couldn't be reached. The PBA also had little to say.

"We have not been notified of anything by the Bronx DA's office," PBA spokesman Al O'Leary said. "So we will not comment until we get something official."

Former NYPD spokeswoman Lt. Jennara Everleth, assigned to the Internal Affairs Bureau at Police Headquarters, was caught leaking information about the case on at least one taped phone call.

The grand jury proceedings were conducted in extreme secrecy, but bits of information emerged yesterday as implicated cops worried about the pending grand jury action.

The investigation began with a tip about Officer Jose Ramos of the 40th Precinct, who investigators suspect had ties to a drug dealer, sources and NYPD documents say.

Wiretaps caught Ramos discussing ticket-fixing, and the scandal soon mushroomed. In all, more than two dozen cops were caught on wiretaps. About 50 testified before the grand jury - many of them cutting deals and piercing the fabled blue wall of silence

kdeutsch@nydailynews.com

‘Fix’ is in: Wrist slaps for previous tix cops
By JAMIE SCHRAM and TIM PERONE, Last Updated: 7:01 AM, September 25, 2011
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As the 17 NYPD cops indicted in the ticket-fix scandal sweat out the weekend before their surrender, dozens of other cops have already been slapped with punishments by the department.

The worst discipline doled out so far has been to withhold so-called “good guy” letters from a few cops who retired, sources said.

The letters are recommendations from the department that allow the former cop to keep a gun permit, which is vital to finding a good-paying gig in private security or law-enforcement.

Dozens of cops have already been socked with a loss of vacation days or stripped of their guns and placed on modified duty for their roles in the scandal.

The department didn’t respond to a request yesterday for the exact number of cops who have been punished or how many still face administrative charges.

The indicted cops -- including at least nine union delegates and one lieutenant -- are expected to learn the charges against them tomorrow, and will be allowed to surrender later in the week, rather than face being arrested at their homes or station houses, sources said yesterday.

The cops allegedly nixed tickets for friends or fellow officers in exchange for food, booze or other gifts.

The charges likely include official misconduct and obstruction of justice.

The three-year investigation began when Internal Affairs Bureau cops overheard 40th Precinct Officer Jose Ramos on a wiretap discussing fixing a ticket.

New York - Report: Officers In Tix-Fix Scandal To Be Charged With Other Criminal Activity

New York - The massive NYPD ticket-fixing probe -- which has already driven a veteran cop to attempted suicide -- has uncovered evidence of dirty officers lining their pockets with drug cash, The Post has learned.

The NYPD, already on edge about likely indictments over fixed tickets, will be blown away by the more serious drug-profit charges, which could signal widespread corruption and even more scandal, sources said.

“Some of the officers will face charges related only to ticket fixing,” said one source with knowledge of the investigation.

“But there will be other officers who will be charged with serious crimes that grew out of the ticket- fixing investigation.

“I think people are going to be shocked by the seriousness of these crimes.”

The offenses may include “cops dealing with drug dealers and proceeds from drug sales,” and burglary.

“It’s going to be more like cops knowing where drug money is stashed and then taking the money,” a source said.