flaking

[A-C]

I read a news article recently.

This is an exerpt:

A former NYPD narcotics detective snared in a corruption scandal testified it was common practice to fabricate drug charges against innocent people to meet arrest quotas.

Anderson, testifying under a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, was busted for planting cocaine, a practice known as "flaking," on four men in a Queens bar in 2008 to help out fellow cop Henry Tavarez, whose buy-and-bust activity had been low.



This is a situation that I find quite concerning. Obviously, truthfully telling the judge that "it isn't yours" isn't going to save you, so what are some methods you can recommend so that innocent citizens can protect themselves from this kind of unethical behavior of planting evidence?

[retdetsgt]

Maybe it was common practice for that narc, but that doesn't mean it's for everyone else.

We had a few guys doing that in the late 70's, but you can't do it for long. At some point it comes out. With our guys, they got away with it for about 6 months and then their whole world crashed on them. A couple went to prison. Trends in cases start and prosecutors aren't stupid. Otherwise that guy wouldn't have former in front of his rank.

[mobrien316]

I have never seen it happen, though I am certainly willing to believe that it has occurred.

Just because a corrupt cop looking to spread the blame around as much as possible says something is common practice doesn't make it so.

[ChesCopPodz]

Never seen it happen in 8 years. I do not, in any way shape or form condone it, am glad that those who do are prosecuted and lose everything, and would never do it as one arrest is not worth my career and honor.

But to be honest, as rare as it is, I think it's even more rare that it happens to completely innocent people. While it may happen to truly innocent people, every one I've read about were already targets by the department for criminal behavior, and the drugs are planted during a miss, when the officers contact that person and they just happen to not have anything on them.

[Kimble]

...what are some methods you can recommend so that innocent citizens can protect themselves from this kind of unethical behavior of planting evidence?

Simple, investigate the matter by an agency outside the one where the suspected corrupt officer works and prosecute them if evidence of criminal activity/corruption is found. Having been a former federal fraud investigator that worked government corruption/bribery cases, that's the formula that works.

[Aussie George]

There are enough real idiots out there to spend my time dealing with. I certainly dont need to find patsy's.

Never seen anything close to that happen in 11 years.

[Joeyd6]

Like a kid, when a cop gets caught in the cookie jar, they tend to TRY to rationalize their own behavior be saying others did it too. Just because one bad cop says others did it, does not mean it is even close to true. Additionally, NYPD narcotics officers work in teams of at least 4. You know how hard it is to get three others to agree to do something illegal and then make it to court and testify to such and not get caught in a lie or inconsistency? Never. You don't hear about his team being suspended or investigated.

He is crying and trying to save his own job with any accusation. And until other cops are charged....it is just that....an accusation!