This has not been a good year for South Florida police officers.
Yesterday, the FBI served a warrant on the Opa-Locka Police Department and arrested a captain - a high ranking official within the department - in connection with a South Florida drug operation. Specifically, the accused police officer is suspected of having knowledge of the killing of a Brinks guard and doing nothing.
The early-morning FBI raid was part of a yearlong investigation. Eight suspects were rounded up and each was indicted on allegations that they operated an organized drug trafficking ring that distributed cocaine, ecstasy and oxycodone.
One of the suspects is a 44-year old captain with the Opa-Locka Police Department. FBI sources said he protected the ring and covered for the ringleader, feeding him information to keep him out of prison.
The man whom the captain is accused of protecting was one of five suspects who were arrested last month, accused of organizing the holdup and eventual execution of the guard at a Bank of America on Miramar Parkway.
Sources alleged that the captain knew information about that incident. Agents said that while the Brinks gunman was on the run, the captain knew where he was but said nothing, and that he was aware of the Brinks stickup before it happened and did nothing to stop it or turn in anyone involved after it happened.
The captain has been with the Opa-locka Police Department since 1999.
Again, folks, incidents like these are tragic. While the captain is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as are all criminal defendants, his alleged actions still bring a sense of public distrust of law enforcement. As a criminal defense attorney, I have to exploit these public opinions when I select trial juries. The general public will read accounts of officer misconduct and will remember those accounts when they are selected on juries and listen to officers testify.
Call Eric Matheny to discuss your criminal case. Attorney Eric Matheny represents clients in Miami-Dade and Broward.