Mount Vernon Cops Investigated by Feds for Possible Ties to Street Gangs

7/11/13 8:58 AMMount Vernon cops investigated by feds for possible ties to street gangs

Page 1 of 4http://www.newsday.com/news/mount-vernon-cops-investigated-by-feds-for-possible-ties-to-street-gangs-1.4694924

Long IslandLong Island SportsSports EntertainmentEntertainment NewsNews LifestyleLifestyle BusinessBusiness HealthHealth OpinionOpinion JobsJobs CarsCars Real EstateReal Estate

News Newsday

Mount Vernon cops investigatedby feds for possible ties to streetgangsPublished: February 22, 2013 5:15 PMBy TIMOTHY O'CONNOR [email protected]

Photo credit: Angela Gaul | The Mount Vernon Police Department headquarters are located at 2 Roosevelt Square in downtownMount Vernon. (May 16, 2012)

Federal investigators are probing whether some Mount Vernon police officers are aligned withmembers of street gangs that have long plagued the city, Newsday has learned.

2 Comments Like 0 TweetTweet 0

Related Stories

Complete coverage: Mount Vernon politics

Facebook

NewsdayLike You like this.

Newsday via Newsday SportsThe captain is back.

33 minutes ago

Derek Jeter to return toYankees todaywww.newsday.comDerek Jeter will rejoin the Yankees'depleted lineup for Thursdayafternoon's series finale against theRoyals, according to Newsday'sDavid Lennon.

Newsday

Most popular

Long Island NYC U.S. / World State Politics Tech Health Business Weird news AP Puzzles Columns

has 7 styles to live by and 16 dress ideas for summer weddings. search newsday.comLONG ISLAND

advertisement | advertise on newsday

More More

Subscribe to Newsday Today's paper My Newsday Traffic alerts 4 Hopewell Junction, NY 73 Hi jeremiah777



The investigation, led by the U.S. attorney's office in White Plains and the FBI, is focusing on anumber of uniformed officers, according to several federal and local law enforcement sources whospoke to Newsday on condition of anonymity.

"It's looking at Mount Vernon officers who could be working with some unsavory types," said onefederal law enforcement source who acknowledged that he was referring to loosely-organized streetgang members involved with illegal drugs, weapons, robberies and assaults in the city.

The probe, which is still in the early stages, is focusing on rank-and-file patrol officers. As of now, theinvestigators have not established whether the alleged corruption could extend up the chain ofcommand, the sources added.

Outgoing Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Carl Bell said Wednesday that he was unaware of anyoutside agency probing the department. Bell, who was fired Tuesday by Mayor Ernie Davis after therelationship between the two men had grown increasingly strained, did say that he had "heard therumors" about possible street gang involvement by some officers.

"We investigated that but nothing ever panned out," Bell said.

Spokesmen for the U.S. attorney's office and the FBI declined Friday to comment.

Davis did not return calls seeking comment on the investigation.

Mount Vernon Police Benevolent Association president Gregory Addison said he was unaware of anyfederal probe involving the Police Department.

"To my knowledge, there's no truth to it," he said of alleged gang involvement by officers.

The alleged connections between some Mount Vernon police officers and street gang members arebased on longtime friendships rather than payoffs, according to the law enforcement sources.

"They're buddies," a law enforcement source said. "They grew up together and now that they're policeofficers they're taking care of their friends in gangs."

In one alleged incident, Mount Vernon officers arrested a street gang member who they said wascarrying an illegal weapon, according to one law enforcement source. Other officers tried to quash thearrest, then helped the reputed gang member file a brutality complaint against the officers whoarrested the gang member.

"You could tell a cop wrote it because it included every member of the (police) detail -- including thosewho were on vacation at the time," the source said.

Concerns over possible gang involvement by Mount Vernon police officers have caused other lawenforcement agencies to shy away from working with the department, according to the sources.

"They won't work with (Mount Vernon police)," a law enforcement source familiar with theinvestigation said. "And forget about anything that involves a wire. They're not trusted."

None of the sources interviewed would speak about what prompted the investigation.

No federal grand jury has yet been empaneled to hear evidence in the case, the sources toldNewsday.

The probe is separate from the federal investigation of Davis' finances, the sources said. Officials areinvestigating how the mayor came to own 10 residential properties in four states worth more than $1million. They are also looking into at least three nonprofit funds Davis set up.

Two different prosecution teams are leading the investigations, federal law enforcement sources said.

Also separate from the federal investigation is Bell's firing, as both he and Davis had been kept in thedark about the probe into the Police Department, according to the law enforcement sources.

Stories Photos

7/10/13

Sources: Suffolk subpoenas Nassau cops inshooting7/10/13

PD: 10-foot shark washes up in Long Beach7/10/13

Neighbors petition against $6M complex7/10/13

Teens honor teammate killed in crash7/10/13

Pirate's Booty maker tolay off all LI workers

Inside Sales

Airconditioning

Bookkeeper Full Charge

Comptroller

Nurse Rn Supervisor

View all top jobs Post your resume

search jobs

search

For More Details Click Here Or Submit BelowFull Name:

Telephone Number:

advertisement | advertise on newsday

Juvenex Spawww.juvenexspa.comGreat Idea For Pre & Post WeddingParties. Call For Specials!Wild Medicine Exhibitnybg.org/wildmedicineFeaturing the Italian Renaissance Gardenat NYBG / May 18- Sep 8Fairfield Inn & SuitesMarriott.com/FairfieldInnGet Our Best Rate Guarantee Only atFairfieldInn.com. Earn Rewards.



Sources added that federal authorities were caught unaware by Davis' decision to let go of his topcop.

Bell, a former federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent and supervisor, was fired after a 2 1/2-year tenure as commissioner of the 205-member department. His last day is Friday.

He and Davis were increasingly at odds as crime in the city surged and the mayor exertedprogressively greater control over the Police Department.

In 2012, there were 10 homicides and more than 20 shootings in Mount Vernon. Only two arrestshave been made in the homicide cases. The 10 killings surpassed the combined total of the previoustwo years.

User rating: (8) Click to rate

Recommended by

You might also be interested in:Dolphin stranded on LI beach dies From newsday.com - News

Wantagh Park workers suspended in duct tape incident From newsday.com - Long Island News

NJ chemist convicted of fatally poisoning husband From newsday.com

Randy Travis hospitalized in Texas, country singer has viral cardiomyopathy From newsday.com -Entertainment

Selected for you by our sponsor:

Brooklyn Teacher Fatally Hit By Cop Using Cell Phone Behind Wheel: Sources From DNAinfo

Woman's remains found behind wall in husband's house From USA TODAY

Comments for this page are closed.

Showing 2 comments

0

Sort by Newest firstReal-time updating is enabled.

rnm 4 months agoIt seems like ex-commish Bell will be an invaluable source for the Fed's now.

Flag Like

3Q2HQ 4 months agoWhen you have a Mayor who embraces the "hip-hop" culture, which is sometimessynonymous with the gang culture, what would you expect. In the CMV, the Mayorcalls the shots for promotions & placement within the PD. These guys then have amisplaced loyalty to him.

Just take a look at Ernie's former Police Chief. Look at where the Dems placed him& where he remains now. Misplaced loyalty? Case in point.

Flag Like



Services

Join us onFacebook

Join us onTwitter

Sign up fornews alerts

Sign up for newsletters

Get ourApps

Newsdaymobile

Explore Long Island Long Island Townsam New York Newsday CarsThe Hometown Shopper Newsday HomesCareerBuilder News 12Optimum Newsday ConnectMSG Varsity

Our Network

Site Map | Privacy Policy | Your ad choices | Terms of Service | Contact Newsday | Careers | Media Kit | Advertise with Newsday | Help | Copyright 2013 Newsday. All rights reserved.

55+ Retirement Communitywww.stoneleighwoods.com/Duel New York Locations Carmel New York

LiquorLicense Applicationwww.GuyParisi.comGuy Parisi Law - 20 Years exp. with LiquorLicense Applicatons

Tent Rentals in Dutchesswww.joethetent.comTents, Tables, Chairs for your next backyardparty. Packages Available!

Hide Toolbar

RSS Today's most popular My headlines My Profile Log out

Documents

Mount Vernon Cops Investigated by Feds for Possible Ties to Street Gangs