New Haven commissioners vote to fire officers arrested in sting

NEW HAVEN, Conn. --City police commissioners on Wednesday night voted to fire two narcotics officers who were arrested last month on allegations they stole money planted at investigation scenes by the FBI.

The Police Commission, heeding the recommendation of Police Chief Francisco Ortiz, voted to terminate Lt. William White, who was the head of the narcotics unit, and Detective Justen Kasperzyk.

The action angered the officers' families and the police union.

"We want to be treated like the public," said Sgt. Louis Cavaliere, the union president. "The presumption's of innocence, innocent until proven guilty."

Neither White nor Kasperzyk commented publicly after the commission meeting. Kasperzyk's mother told WVIT-TV that her son is a "a great detective and he was unduly terminated."

White was charged with stealing nearly $30,000 in what he thought was drug money, but was actually cash planted by the FBI at investigation scenes. He was also accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from bail bondsmen in return for capturing fugitives who skipped bail.

Kasperzyk was charged with stealing less than $1,000 in money planted by the FBI. He was also accused of taking $800 from the girlfriend of a suspect arrested by narcotics officers.

New Haven bail bondsmen Robert Jacobs, 79, Paul Jacobs, 48 and Philip Jacobs, 47, were also arrested, charged with bribery conspiracy.

New Haven officials disbanded the narcotics unit after the arrests, handing over some of its cases to state authorities.

Police union officials said the officers' pensions are not at jeopardy because there is no clause in the contract that allows the pensions of officers who have been arrested to be revoked.