St. Louis, Mo., police officer Reginald Williams, 44, was sentenced Friday to more than six years in prison for falsifying drug charges against two men.
Williams was found guilty in April in federal court of obstruction of justice and making false statements to a federal official.
“It is hard to imagine that a police officer intentionally creates evidence against an innocent person which leads to that person serving a term of imprisonment,” U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said. “The public needs to be able to trust law enforcement and to know that it will not stand for one of its own violating the law.”
According to testimony during Williams’ six-day trial, the 15-year officer falsely arrested several people for possession of crack cocaine in August 2001. Prosecutors said the arrests were part of a pattern of misconduct dating to 1996.
Williams lied to federal prosecutors about the amount of crack cocaine that one individual possessed and falsely accused two other men of possessing crack when they did not, authorities said.
Jurors in April deliberated for two and a half days as the case hinged on testimony of some convicted felons and a former officer who admitted beating a handcuffed suspect. Some witnesses were granted immunity from prosecution.
Williams was acquitted of two counts of criminal civil rights violations and one of possessing crack with intent to distribute.
Williams was suspended without pay following his indictment, but has not yet been fired, a spokesman for the police department said.
“Today’s sentencing of Police Officer Reginald Williams is a sad day for the Metropolitan Police Department,” Police Chief Joe Mokwa said, but said it was a reminder that no one is above the law. — Associated Press
For every one story of a crooked cop getting what he deserves, I’ve got a hundred of crooked cops abusing their badges and leaving trails of victims in their wake, who only rarely are able to see justice served. Bad Cop, No Donut covers some of these stories. What’s most amazing to me about this one is that they didn’t fire him, even after he was found guilty, or even after he was sentenced.
It’s very hard to trust the police, since almost everyone knows that certain police officers engage in conduct which is simply beyond the pale. You can’t tell, when someone with a badge and gun approaches you, if he’s one of the good guys or the bad guys. And if it’s one of the bad guys, there’s little you can do to prevent him from lying on the witness stand, producing a vial of crack from his own pocket and claiming it’s yours, and so on.
I know a few of my regular readers are in law enforcement. How do you feel about this sort of corruption? Is there any corruption in your department that isn’t being properly investigated and prosecuted?
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Jason
Sep 17, 2005
I’ve spoken my mind on this once already
Coyote Osborne
Sep 22, 2005
One of the things that makes me boiling mad is the _good_ cops I’ve met, some of whom I have watched suffer over the years because bad cops were allowed to benefit from or escape punishment for their behavior, while decent cops work hard, under dangerous or unpleasant positions, often for meager pay. I’ve encountered cops who did their jobs with courtesy and respect, with a mind for maintaining law and public safety. I’ve also encountered some who revel in the ability to torment or be abusive to others with impunity. A police officer, someone whose charge is the enforcement of fair and just law, should be an example of the best sort of person our country has to offer. I’ve seen false “morality” rules enforced on cops, where they have to cut their hair a certain way, or not get a tattoo, or not wear an earring, in the interest of giving forth the _appearance_ of dignity and being “clean cut”, but I would much prefer police officers be required to live up to standards of ethics, decency and rightness, not merely adopt the appearance of such. Policing should be a respected position of _responsibility_. Not a position of authority to be abused or exploited for petty reasons. I’ve known some damn good cops. I’ve also met a few that were definitely on the _wrong_ side of the handcuffs.
shannon
Oct 05, 2005
Hey how are you,
I was interested to know if this `officer was put in general poulation or was there some sort of special deal for him to protect him from other inmates. I’m doing resourch for a paper at school. WMy question is Do law enforcement officials who are put on probation, parole or incarcerated get special treatment? Are these offenders treated the same as other offenders. Are the same guidelines for law enforcements on parole or probation the same as those who are not in law enforcement.
Michael Hampton
Oct 05, 2005
Shannon, the last time I checked, Williams was under house arrest while officials try to figure out which prison he will serve his time in. I don’t believe there’s been an update since then.
Kim
Nov 19, 2005
About a week ago he went to serve his time…he is in an Oklahoma facility where his family says he is receiving the “Martha Stewart” treatment….playing basketball daily.
Ryan Williams
May 22, 2007
Reginald Williams is my father and i will not let his named be slandered. He was a highly declorated officer who upheld the law with every bone in his body. If you think i’m just saying it because he is my father go to the wallnut park area in saint louis where he worked and to there block unit meetings. I’m positive that they will all tell you that he was the best thing that ever happened to that neighborhood. I know this because he always draged me to the meetings with him after our boxing practice. Oh and speaking of boxing tell me this how could he be crooked if all his boxers were children of people he sent to federal penatentary. Would you trust your son or daughter with a man that was crooked and put you in jail for something you didn’t do? no you wouldn’t and they didn’t either. They all trusted my father because they knew he could get them off the streets and somewhere where their violent behaviors would not get them in trouble so when you try to put my father down KIM get your facts straight
Michael Hampton
May 22, 2007
Are you trying to say he didn’t commit the crimes he was convicted of?
Ryan Williams
Sep 08, 2007
Thats Is what i am saying he did not do it……. and once he proves that “which is not hard to prove” he will be out and everyone who looked down on him for being the great officer he was will look stupid. If you think he was a bad cop go to St.Louis into the walnut park area and speak to the elders there they will tell you how great he really was….. But tell me this! If he was a cop that put drugs on people would he have had a boxing team full of people he sent to prison kids? no they brought their children to my father and asked him to keep them out the streets so they wont end up in the same place my father sent them. My father turned all of there kids into boxing champions…… witch the club is still being ran buy one of the parents and they are still wining championships because of that great man
Anonymous
Dec 18, 2007
well that is a lie that man needs to be in jail..him and his friends the only thing is i when he get out of jail i well give a tape to news 2 of him and his friends takeing over 30 thousand dollars…..
Ryan Williams
Dec 24, 2007
you can kiss my ass because unless you are on the streets of North STL you cant speak on that
Michael Hampton
Dec 24, 2007
You understand, of course, that it’s very hard to believe. Most police officers have to be viewed with distrust and suspicion because they either are corrupt themselves, or turn a blind eye when one of “their own” is corrupt.
Nothing you have said about your father has given me even the slightest reason to believe he is unlike that. I’m sorry. I know it’s difficult, especially at this time of year, but in this country at this time in human history, law enforcement simply is not the place for honest people. If you do something to change that, then perhaps innocent people won’t have to go to prison.
brian
Feb 02, 2010
officer R.W. Sloan pulled me out of my car accused me of threatening a neighbor made me take sobriety test and wanted to search for weapons for something that really never happened.also came to take my dog on false dog abuse charges all from a neighbor making false baseless claims and cops are going along withit.they have been to our home over10 in a year and we havent been charged but now there trying to take my drivers lic. and my dog for lies.
brian
Feb 02, 2010
Hatfield police gave a neighbor tickets for something i know he didnt do, now i see what he means the cops let our one neighbors threaten us and falsely accuse us multiple times and yet they wont let us file harrasment or defamation of character case.Hatfield police allow this to happen even though this neighbor lost court cases for filing false reports.having cops at your house being pulled over for stuff your not doing is wrong its harrasment ant it is criminal.time to bring this in the open.lets exspose this for all to see.anyone with issues from hatfield police please comment. i know im not alone