Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2008
Source: New York Post (NY)
Copyright: 2008 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296
Author: Larry Celona, and Perry Chiaramonte

THREE NARCS SUSPENDED

Three more cops have been suspended in connection with the widening 
scandal at the Brooklyn South Narcotics squad, authorities said yesterday.

They are the latest to be implicated in an investigation that has led 
to the busts of four officers since December.

All three of the suspended cops worked on a midnight tour with one of 
the arrested officers, Jerry Bowens, who's accused of stealing drugs 
and cash from an undercover cop posing as a drug dealer, police sources said.

The sources did not provide further details as to why they were suspended.

Bowens and Sgt. Michael Arenella were busted on Friday.

Two other cops, Detective Sean Johnstone and Officer Julio Alvarez, 
were charged in December with misconduct and falsifying records after 
11 bags of cocaine seized in a bust went missing.

The cops used the stolen drugs and money to pay informants, 
authorities said. Investigators routinely pay cash to informants, but 
must make a record of the payments and any seized evidence.

The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau set up the sting operation on 
Bowens after a female informant ratted him out.

She told officials she had a sexual relationship with him.

A total of nine officers have been suspended in connection with the 
scandal, while several high-level narcotics commanders have been reassigned.

Mayor Bloomberg weighed in yesterday, saying, "This city has no 
tolerance whatsoever for the kind of behavior that's been alleged. 
Whether it actually took place, the investigative process will determine." 
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