Providence Police Officers Arrested in Drug Sting

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo - Providence, RI) - Handcuffed and plain-clothed, two Providence police officers were in court Friday morning facing serious drug charges and allegations they abused their power.

44-year-old Detective Joseph Colanduono of West Warwick is a federal drug enforcement officer, who's been given the mayor's award for outstanding police work.

Colanduono is accused of not only possessing cocaine but connecting the lead drug dealer with buyers.
33-year-old patrolman Robert Hamlin of East Providence is a school resource officer at Central High School.
Hamlin is accused of providing the alleged drug ring with inside information.

47-year-old Sgt. Stephen Gonsalves of Providence did not have to appear in court today, but is accused of buying cocaine and soliciting others to commit crimes.

Gonsalves was a driver for Providence Mayor David Cicilline, and Golsalves' wife is Cicilline's executive assistant.

Providence Police Col. Dean Esserman said, "Each officer was called into my office, suspended immediately without pay and turned over to the state police in my office where each was arrested."

State police tapped the officers' cell phones, put GPS bugs on their cars and after a four month long investigation they've charged them in this alleged drug ring.

Captain David Neill, RI State Police said, "Robert Hamlin was intercepted telling his brother about the names, vehicles and descriptions of those members working in the Providence Police narcotics unit."

Officer Hamlin's younger brother Albert is considered the leader of this alleged drug ring.

And two other men - Khalid Mason and Jameson Hassett - have been charged with being involved with the drug operation.
After a search of a garage, and home tied to Hamlin, investigators recently confiscated more than three ounces of cocaine and more than nine thousand dollars in suspected drug money.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline said, "To have violated the public's trust the way these officers have does an incredible disservice to the entire city, to the department, puts members of their own department - loyal, hard-working members of the Providence Police Department - at risk.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

FOX NEWS HOST REFUSES TO BOARD PLANE WITH BLACK FEMALE PILOT

MOM & 12 KIDS HOMELESS AFTER FAKE LANDLORD SCAM

Run-D.M.C. Producer Larry Smith Dead at 63