Seth Williams Gets Off on the Wrong Foot
That would be the Christopher Werner who headed up the Narcotics Field Unit unit, which generated headlines like these:
2 lawsuits: Cops hid ‘illegal’ actions – 09/11/2009
Narcotics Officer Jeffrey Cujdik and fellow squad members routinely conducted “illegal searches” of corner stores, then disabled surveillance cameras to “cover up” their actions and the theft of money and merchandise, according to allegations in two civil lawsuits filed yesterday.Why are 4 narcs under probe still getting OT? – 08/03/2009
THE CITY IS still paying thousands of dollars in court-related overtime to four narcotics officers taken off the street after being accused of fabricating evidence and other crimes.Again a woman alleges indecent assault by same cop during a narcotics raid – 06/17/2009
THE BURLY narcotics officer yanked down the young woman’s underwear as they stood in the doorway of her second-floor Frankford apartment, she said.Timeline for 3 assaults & an officer twice placed on desk duty – 06/17/2009
Narcotics Officer Thomas Tolstoy is on desk duty and is a focus of a growing probe into allegations of police misconduct. The complaints filed and police administrative action against Tolstoy include:Bodega raids will be fully probed, Ramsey assures Dominican community – 06/17/2009
Prompted by reports that a group of narcotics officers took thousands in cash and merchandise from mom-and-pop stores during raids, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey last night assured Dominican community leaders and merchants that he will stand tough against misconduct.New cop misconduct alleged: 4th drug officer off street; women cite groping – 06/01/2009
A fourth Philadelphia police officer has been taken off the street in connection with an expanding investigation into allegations of police misconduct. This time, three women say they were fondled and groped.Narcs’ cases were in the bag – 04/09/2009
THE POLICE Department’s elite Narcotics Field Unit is supposed to go after big fish – kingpins who package mounds of drugs behind closed doors.
In fact, I referenced the ongoing corruption at the Philadelphia Police Department just two weeks ago.
Mr. Williams campaigned as “a new DA” who would “fight corruption and help reform the culture of corruption that has too long been prevalent in Philadelphia” and who wants “the support and cooperation of Philadelphia’s citizens” to fight crime. And I believe him. Hell, I voted for him both times he ran, largely because I think the concept of community-based prosecution makes sense.
But if Mr. Williams, who says of Werner, “There was nothing . . . that would prohibit him from being the best person for the job,” wants to get off on the right foot, he sure stepped in it. The Daily News writes that “As chief of detectives, Werner will help drive a wide range of investigations, including sex crimes, gun offenses and municipal corruption.” But as head of the NFU, his own officers got busted for groping the breasts of female suspects. The NFU was exposed as hopelessly corrupt, robbing bodega owners of money and products (a charge that Werner notably sidestepped when asked about it), while cutting the wires of surveillance cameras in an effort to avoid getting caught.
If Werner’s “the best person for the job”, I’d like to see the worst.
