Update: Police Chiefs Release Statements on Cops Arrested in Corruption Case

DeKalb's interim police chief Lisa Gassner released a statement today about the county police officers -- one of them, Dorian Williams, is of the Stone Mountain area -- arrested Tuesday in a sweeping corruption case that covered multiple agencies in metro Atlanta.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the officers are alleged to have taken thousands of dollars in payouts. They have been charged with crimes including assisting with drug trafficking, receiving illegal payouts and using firearms during the commission of a crime.

Gassner's statement reads:

“It is incomprehensible why these officers chose to aid and abet these criminals when they are sworn to protect our community from such offenders.  These officers do not reflect the character of the hundreds of DeKalb County police officers that wear the badge.  Their alleged actions only assist in eroding the public’s trust in those that honorably serve and that is truly disheartening."

Williams, who has been with the department since 2007, is charged with conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments and attempted possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, the press release from U.S. Attorney Sally Yates states.

The other DeKalb officer arresed Tuesday is Dennis Duren, of Atlanta.

Both officers are on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according DeKalb PD.

Original story:

City of Stone Mountain police chief Chancey Troutman has released the following statement about charged Tuesday in a corruption case:

I would like to reassure the citizens of Stone Mountain that they still have a loyal and trustworthy police force in our City. If the allegations are true, Officer Denoris Carter had a serious lapse in judgment to get involved in criminal activity and betray the public trust. Officer Carter has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Again, I want the citizens of Stone Mountain to know we are committed to keeping them safe and maintaining their trust.

According to United States Attorney Sally Yates, the officers charged are alleged to have taken thousands of dollars in payouts. They have been charged with crimes including assisting with drug trafficking, receiving illegal payouts and using firearms during the commission of a crime.

The charges against Carter include conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments.

From Yates' press release:

Between April and September 2012, Stone Mountain Police Officer Denoris Carter, working together with Mannery, provided protection for what he and Mannery believed were five separate transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine.   For these services, Carter and Mannery accepted cash payments totaling $23,500.  For all five transactions, Carter dressed in his Stone Mountain Police uniform.  In four of the deals, he arrived in his police cruiser and either patrolled or parked in the parking lots in which the undercover sales took place and watched the transactions.  During the final transaction in September 2012, Carter was on foot, displaying a firearm in a holster on his belt, and he walked through the parking lot in which the transaction took place and watched the participants.   Finally, during one of the transactions, Carter agreed to escort the purchaser of the sham cocaine in his police vehicle for several miles, until the purchaser reached Highway 78.  Carter is charged with conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments, attempted possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.