HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Feb. 24 Allegedly crooked Florida cops could face life in prison for running diamonds and drugs for a fake New York crime family, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel said.
The newspaper said Saturday that a cabal was started by one Hollywood police officer who was willing to front for the alleged Mafia family, and that he eventually recruited a trio of old school cops he knew would want in on the action. A federal complaint stemming from the investigation dubbed Operation Tarnished Badge accused the officers of protecting and transporting stolen diamonds, artwork, bonds and heroin for undercover FBI agents pretending to be involved in organized crime.The Sun-Sentinel said the officers often joked about being in the Mafia, and they promised they would use their police authority, equipment and law-enforcement techniques to protect the mobsters they believed they were working for. The alleged ringleader was identified as Detective Kevin Companion, 41, who brought onboard Sgt. Jeff Courtney, 51; Officer Stephen Harrison, 46; and Detective Thomas Simcox, 50, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
