Detective Accused of Providing Tips to Informers Is Acquitted
By JOHN ELIGON
Published: November 12, 2009
A New York City police detective accused of tipping off confidential informers about aspects of a federal drug investigation was acquitted on Thursday of charges of hindering prosecution and official misconduct.
The detective, Earl Williams, who was on paid suspension from the Manhattan North Major Case Narcotics Squad during the three-week trial in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, could still face discipline from the Police Department. His lawyer, Peter E. Brill, said he remained hopeful that his client would be able to keep his job.
Outside the courtroom on Thursday, Detective Williams said, "I hope to continue my career in the New York City Police Department, put this behind me and keep it moving." He added that he knew he "was right and not guilty of all the things I was accused of."
Prosecutors said that investigators for the Drug Enforcement Administration had told the narcotics detective that two informers, identified as Batman and Robin, were the subjects of a federal investigation and that their telephones were tapped.
In fact, prosecutors have said, Detective Williams knew that the informers were selling drugs outside their sphere of work for him. But instead of trying to stop them, the prosecutors said, he continued to use them as informers, even leaking crucial information to the two men, including tips about wiretaps and search warrants.
But Detective Williams testified on Thursday that the federal drug agents were uncooperative and had given him no specifics about their investigation. He added that he had not been told that the men's phones were tapped.
After the jury forewoman read the verdict - not guilty on each of the six counts - the detective's sister, Tracy Wyche, rocked back and forth, pumped both of her fists and said, "Oh, yes!" in a whisper. "That's relief - such relief," Ms. Wyche, 46, said. "Right is right. That's a good man."
Detective Williams shook hands and hugged detectives and police officers there to support him. "That's what's up," he told them.
A version of this article appeared in print on November 13, 2009, on page A26 of the New York edition.
