Mobile Cops Facing Drug Charges Resign

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Officers facing drug charges resign
Posted by Ron Colquitt, Staff Reporter
February 15, 2008 1:18 PM

The two Mobile police officers arrested and charged with felony possession of crack cocaine Feb. 6 turned in their resignations today, police Chief Phillipp Garrett said.

Desmond Ryan Brooks, 28, and Aaron Porter, 32, resigned "in bad standing," the chief said today during a news conference.

The men still face criminal charges, Garrett said. An investigation is continuing to determine if other officers were involved in the criminal activity, he said.

An affidavit used to obtain a warrant said Brooks was involved in illegal "shakedowns," when answering calls involving possible drugs or money.

Undercover officers set up Brooks to see if he would take drugs and money without reporting it, according to the affidavit. Brooks took the bait and did not report what he found, investigators say.

Following Brooks' arrest, Porter, a rookie, was taken into custody after officers searched his home and found less than an ounce of crack cocaine.

Don't Deserve Compassion

In a very quick turn around the letter I submitted to the Press-Register yesterday was printed in today's edition....with only minor editing.

Thanks Press-Register

Don't dseserve compassion

I read with anger the articles concerning Mobile police officers being arrested for drug possession ("Officers arrested on drug charges," Feb. 7, and "Details emerge," Feb. 8). I wasn't angry because the cops were arrested, as they most certainly were worthy candidates for that. I was angry because of the kid-glove treatment they received vs. the treatment received by the non-badge-wearing guy on the street arrested for doing the same thing.

For instance, the paper said Chief Phillip Garrett observed that "there was no indication that officers Brooks and Porter had used drugs or sold them." So, what exactly were these fine men in blue supposedly doing with the drugs and money they allegedly seized? Holding onto it for a medical emergency? Stocking up for the coming recession, perhaps?

Anyone else caught with crack cocaine and money would have been labeled a "king pin" and probably would have lost their pay. (this was edited slightly from the original sentence)

In the second story, Chief Garrett was quoted as saying, "We do have compassion for them."

What about compassion for the people who don't wear a badge who succumb to temptation? Where is the compassion for regular folks caught doing the same thing? Are cops more worthy of compassion than regular people?

A regular black man found with "less than an ounce of crack and $360 in cash" would likely have been tasered, tackled and hauled to jail. There was no tasering or tackling with these arrests. No drug task force kicked in these officers' doors at 3 a.m. using a no-knock warrant and flash-bang grenades.

I don't normally advocate jail for drug offenses, but I do if cops are found with the drugs from people they have arrested.

If these cops are convicted, I do hope that any cases involving testimony from them will be given a thorough second look.

LORETTA NALL

Alexander City

Do corrupt cops deserve more compassion than regular folks?

Here is an LTE I just penned to the Mobile Press-Register about the cops arrested on drug charges. I hope that you will write one too.

Dear Editor,

I read with anger the stories of two Mobile police officers being arrested for drug possession ("Officers arrested on drug charges" 02/07 and "Details emerge" 02/08). I wasn't angry because the cops were arrested, as they most certainly were worthy candidates for that. I was angry because of the kid-glove treatment they received vs. the treatment received by the non-badge-wearing guy on the street arrested for doing the same thing.

For instance Chief Phillip Garrett's comment, "Garrett said there was no indication that Brooks and Porter had used drugs or sold them."

So, what exactly were these fine men in blue doing with the drugs and money they seized? Holding onto them for a medical emergency? Stocking up for the coming recession perhaps? Anyone else caught with crack cocaine and money would have been labeled a 'dealer'. They would also have lost their jobs and their pay. However these two cops were suspended WITH PAY.

In the second story Chief Garrett said, "We do have compassion for them."

What about compassion for the people who succumb to temptation that don't wear a badge? Where is the compassion for the regular folks caught doing the same thing? Are corrupt cops more worthy of compassion than regular people? A regular black man found with 'less than an ounce of crack and $360 in cash' would likely have been tasered, tackled and hauled to jail. I noted there was no tasering or tackling with these arrests. No Drug Task force kicked in these officers' doors at 3 a.m. using a no-knock warrant and flash-bang grenades. Must be nice to have the police have compassion for you.

I don't normally advocate jail for drug offenses, but I do when it involves corrupt cops being found with the drugs that they have arrested and jailed other people for. I wonder how many drug cases they have testified in resulting in imprisonment for others? I do hope that any cases involving testimony from these true thug gang members will be given a thorough second look. And I hope these cops get placed in general population for a long, long time. They need a taste of their own medicine.

Respectfully Submitted for publication,
Loretta Nall

More on Mobile cops busted with drugs

A new article in the Press-Register this morning lays out more details in the case of two Mobile cops being busted with drugs they took off the streets.

According to the article...

An affidavit used to obtain a warrant to search Brooks' home and vehicle said the police received information that Brooks was involved in illegal "shake downs," when answering calls involving possible drugs or money. "Specifically that Officer Brooks was unlawfully seizing money and converting it to his personal use," the affidavit said.

The affidavit, obtained from the Mobile County District Attorney's Office, describes how two undercover officers set up Brooks to see if he would take drugs and money without reporting it.

Brooks took the bait and did not report what he found, according to the affidavit. Brooks, an eight-year veteran of the force, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after officers searched his home and found a few grams of crack-cocaine and about $360 in cash, said Deputy Chief Jim Barber. According to the affidavit, $360 was the amount of money left in a vacant house as bait to see if Brooks would take it.

Brooks arrived on the scene and talked with the informant, then retrieved the drugs and money from the vacant house and put it in his police cruiser, according to affidavit.

Brooks never reported seizing either the drugs or the money, and did not turn them in to the department's property or evidence section, the affidavit said.

The story goes on to say....

Brooks, of Theodore, was released on $8,500 in bail on two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, a charge of theft of lost property and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. Brooks is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing on Feb. 20.

Porter was released on $5,000 in bail on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.

When is the last time the average dude on the street selling crack got a bond that low? How come they got such a low bond? Man, that really pisses me off. These scum are NOT entitled to special treatment.

And here is the real kicker...

Garret said the squad should be relieved that Porter and Brooks have been suspended, because their actions have brought embarrassment and discredit to the department. However, it wasn't easy for officers to arrest two of their own, Garrett said.

"We do have compassion for them," he said.

What about compassion for the people who succumb to temptation that don't wear a fucking badge? Where is the compassion for the regular folks caught doing the same thing? Are corrupt cops worthy of more compassion that regular people? A regular balck dude found with 'less than an ounce of crack and $360 in cash' would likely have been tasered, tackled, hauled to jail and given a $100,000 or higher bond. I've seen them go as high as a million in pissant drug cases....yet these cops get out of jail on what really amounts to pocket change.

I don't normally advocate jail for drug offenses.....but I do when it involves corrupt cops being found with the drugs that they have arrested and jailed people for. I wonder how many cases they have testified in resulting in imprisonment for others? I hope these guys get placed in general population for a long, long time.

Two Mobile Cops Arrested on Drug Charges

The Press Register is reporting that two Mobile cops have been arrested on drug charges

Two Mobile police officers have been arrested on drug possession charges and one also faces a theft charge.

Mobile Police Chief Phillip Garrett said Desmond Brooks, 28, of Theodore and Aaron Porter, 32, of Mobile were arrested Wednesday.

In a statement, Garrett said a search warrant was executed at Brooks' residence where officers confiscated illegal drugs. Brooks, who has been on the police force six years, was charged with two felonies - possession of crack cocaine and possession of marijuana. He also was charged with theft of lost property.

Porter, who has been an officer for about a year, was charged with possession of crack cocaine.

Both officers were held in Mobile County Metro Jail, pending a bond hearing. They were suspended from their jobs. It was unclear Thursday if they had attorneys.

Garrett said there was no indication that Brooks and Porter had used drugs or sold them. A tip last week led to the arrests.

"It was a total surprise to me," Garrett said.

And here's my favorite line...

Garrett said there was no indication that Brooks and Porter had used drugs or sold them.

So, what? They were just keeping them in their homes for shits and giggles? A medical emergency perhaps? Stocking up for the recession? They were either selling, using or both. The only other reason they might have them would be to plant them on people so they make their monthly bust quota.

Wonder how many men and women are sitting in prison today who were arrested by these guys?