Williamsburg, NY – A top cop went undercover to catch one of his own.
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In what may have been an unprecedented technique to catch a Brooklyn detective suspected of corruption, a detective commander wore a wire to secretly tape conversations with the gumshoe in their precinct’s squad room.
Sgt. Robert Kelly, the former head of the 90th Precinct detective squad in Williamsburg, became an undercover in his own office at the direction of the FBI agents who were investigating Detective Luis Batista for alleged illicit ties to a violent drug gang.
“Sgt. Kelly wore a hidden audio recorder and engaged Detective Batista in conversation in an attempt to get him to make incriminating statements,” said papers filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.
“The implications of having an undercover officer not just inside the detective squad, but as Batista’s commanding officer, are enormous,” the papers state.
It apparently wasn’t a stretch for Kelly, who had previously worked in the police Internal Affairs Bureau.
Batista’s lawyer, however, called the move shocking. “It’s unprecedented that a commanding officer of a detective squad would engage in this. It’s scary stuff,” said James Moschella, who represents thousands of NYPD detectives, lieutenants and captains.
Kelly has since been handsomely rewarded with a pay raise and assigned to the prestigious Joint Terrorism Task Force, said Moschella.
The feds charged Batista this year with conspiring to sell drugs and tipping off dealers.
The investigation also uncovered two IAB sergeants – Henry Conde and William Valerio – who have been charged with obstructing the probe.
Although Kelly has profited from being an informant, he didn’t get the goods on Batista.
about time
about time what? the NYPD is doing a fabulous job stop criticizing them for nothing
Batista’s lawyer, however, called the move shocking. “It’s unprecedented that a commanding officer of a detective squad would engage in this. It’s scary stuff,” said James Moschella, who represents thousands of NYPD detectives, lieutenants and captains
But that officers are crooks that’s not unprecedented? The officers are scared that their commanders are going to catch them? And us the public are supposed to feel bad? Let them get rid of the rotten apples. Most of the NYPD means it sincere, and a few rotten apples are hurting everyone. I say we flush them out by any means necessary.
Oh, and let’s pay them fairly too!
just don’t go bike riding near a police officer of nypd. u might get psuhed down leik ith incident on broadway.sk
yenta pesha
Tip #1 : Your post might just sound just a wee bit more intelligent if you used your computer’s automatic spell checker
Tip #2 : Your comments should try to have a faint connection to the article at hand.
good luck
WOW I didn’t know the NYPD had an honest cop…???!!!
Anonymous Says:
WOW I didn’t know the NYPD had an honest cop…???!!!
08-04-2008 – 1:27 PM
He’s not honest! He was rewarded nicely!!! Cant read?