In general, citizens of Florida view police officers as the ones who will protect them from crimes. In most cases, they are correct, since the majority of Florida police officers are upstanding citizens who do their best to serve and protect residents of the state. That makes it all the more shocking when a trusted police officer is implicated in a drug crime.
Unfortunately, this occurred in a recent case of a former south Florida police officer. He is accused of having sold prescription drugs while he was on duty. While no longer on the police force, he is facing federal charges and will have to answer to those in court.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office released details about the charges on Friday. According to their statement, the former officer is currently facing a felony count of carrying a firearm in relation to and during a drug trafficking crime. His first appearance in a Fort Lauderdale Federal Court was scheduled for the Tuesday after the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s statement about the charges.
The former officer is based in Wellington. He served in the West Palm Beach Police Department for 18 years, but was fired last August. The police chief stated that the officer had shown a practice and pattern of willfully disregarding policies that had been established by the department.
If convicted of the charges he faces, the man could face up to life in prison. Of course, he will be able to retain an attorney and mount a defense. According to a city spokesperson for West Palm Beach, local officials are cooperating with the federal investigation.
This case involved a police officer being accused. Most drug crime cases in Florida don’t. However, they are all serious and defendants are advised present a strong defense against the charges. This is especially true in cases that involve federal charges.
Source: Huffington Post, “Man Named Edward Cocaine Arrested On Drug Charge — In Florida, Of Course” Janie Campbell, Apr. 17, 2014