Hub officer arrested on drug-related allegations

A 45-year-old Boston police officer who has served on the force since 1986 was arrested yesterday on drug-related charges, Commissioner Edward F. Davis said in a statement last night.

Jose Ortiz, a patrol officer with 21 years of service, was arrested in Revere and is to be arraigned this morning in federal court in Boston, said Elaine Driscoll, a police spokeswoman.

Ortiz last worked in District D-4, which covers the Back Bay and South End. Authorities did not indicate why he was arrested in Revere, nor would they elaborate on the case against him.

"Today is a sad day for the Boston Police Department," Davis said in the statement. "Becoming a Boston police officer and serving the City of Boston is a privilege. Any individual who abuses their authority or takes advantage of that privilege will be dealt with swiftly and aggressively."

Neither Ortiz nor his relatives could be reached last night. Thomas Drechsler, a lawyer for the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, declined to comment.

Driscoll said the action against Ortiz is unrelated to the arrest in Miami last year of three Boston police officers accused of delivering and protecting large shipments of drugs.

A federal grand jury indicted Roberto Pulido of Hyde Park, Carlos Pizarro of Dorchester, and Nelson Carrasquillo also of Dorchester, each on one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram of heroin.

Pulido and Carrasquillo were each indicted on a second count of attempting to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

All three officers were indicted on a third count of attempting to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

If convicted, each of the three faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine on each count. Pizarro also was assigned to District D-4.

Davis said the FBI, the US attorney's office, and the department's anticorruption division have been investigating "allegations of criminal activity" against Ortiz for the last nine months.

Driscoll said Davis accompanied officers who arrested Ortiz "to personally inform him that he is no longer a Boston police officer."

Officially, Ortiz was suspended from the department, pending a termination hearing, which is scheduled for next week.

Globe correspondent Michael Naughton contributed to this report.