Officers punished in steroid inquiry
Move marks end to 3-year Boston investigation
Eleven Boston police officers have been disciplined for their role in a steroid scandal that humiliated the department, forced officials to tighten their drug policies, and resulted in prison time for four patrolmen.
The disciplined officers, seven of whom admitted to using steroids at some point in their careers, received punishments ranging from a written reprimand to a 45-day suspension without pay. None of the officers was fired and none will face criminal charges, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said yesterday.
“I am disappointed with the actions of the officers disciplined in this matter,’’ he said during a press conference at police headquarters. “We remain steadfast in our dedication to preserving the integrity of our department by taking every measure to prevent and when necessary uncover officer misconduct.’’
The punishments were the culmination of a three-year investigation into steroid use at the department that began in August 2006, soon after the FBI arrested Officer Roberto “Kiko’’ Pulido for trying to traffic cocaine. The FBI investigation revealed that Pulido, a steroid user, frequently guarded parties at an after-hours club in Hyde Park called the “Boom Boom Room.’’ At the club, located above an auto body shop at 24 Factory St., prostitutes and dancers mingled with police and alcohol and drugs were readily available.
Two of the 11 officers cited yesterday were disciplined for going to the club in uniform, while they were on duty.
Federal prosecutors ultimately launched a grand jury to investigate steroid use and after-hours parties within the department, but the acting US Attorney said yesterday the investigation had been closed.
Pulido pleaded guilty in November 2008 to charges that he conspired to traffic cocaine and heroin from Western Massachusetts to Jamaica Plain. He was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison. Three other officers also pleaded guilty on drug-related charges.
The disciplinary action announced yesterday ends one of the most embarrassing chapters in the department’s history, but questions linger about how effective the police can be in controlling steroid use in the department considering how difficult it is to test for the drug.
Steroid testing is much more expensive than other narcotics tests and can be less accurate, yielding false positives.
Davis said that after the federal investigation began, the department started training supervisors to spot signs of substance abuse, especially steroids.
Supervisors are also going through “integrity training,’’ which reviews the department’s ethics, like reporting other officers’ wrongdoing and looking for signs of possible corruption among officers.
One possible example: a patrolman who suddenly buys a luxury car.
Officers and recruits must also now take courses that teach the health risks of using anabolic steroids and recruits are being tested for the illegal substance.
The department also negotiated a new policy with the police unions, requiring officers who violate the drug abuse policy to be tested throughout their careers, instead of over just a three-year period.
“There is an emerging trend of steroid use in law enforcement that we’re monitoring very closely,’’ Davis said.
“Unfortunately, we were on the leading edge of this being disclosed. . . . Luckily, it’s not very widespread based upon the results of the investigation.’’
The department’s anticorruption division began investigating the officers when their names came up in interviews with other officers as they probed steroid use.
The disciplined officers were Steven Gil, a 39-year-old patrolman, who was suspended for three days for failing to notify the department about other officers’ steroid use; Kenneth Gaines, a 44-year-old detective, who was suspended for 30 days for using steroids in 2004; Joseph Marrero, a 34-year-old detective, who was suspended for 30 days for using steroids in 2002; Richard Medina, a 36-year-old patrolman, who was suspended for 15 days for using steroids in 2001; Martin Harrison, a 37-year-old patrolman, who was suspended for 30 days for using steroids in 2005 and 2006; David Juba, a 35-year-old patrolman, who was suspended for 45 days for using steroids in 2006, then lying about it, and going to the Boom Boom Room twice while on duty and in uniform; Luke Holbrook, a 36-year-old patrolman, who was suspended for 40 days for using steroids in 2006, then lying about it; Timothy Hancock, a 41-year-old patrolman, who was disciplined for 30 days for using steroids in 2004; and Joseph Dominguez, a 37-year-old patrolman, and Carl Shorter, a 41-year-old patrolman, who were both disciplined for three days for going to the Boom Boom Room while on duty and in uniform.
Nichole Tyler, a 39-year-old patrolwoman, received a written reprimand for leaving her assigned post to drop off her partner at the club.
All of the officers accused of steroid use will be subject to drug tests for their entire careers.
Miller Thomas, president of the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, said it is unfair that admitting drug use that occurred before the new testing policy was approved could subject some officers to testing for the rest of their careers.
“Due process doesn’t exist for us,’’ Thomas said.
Thomas Drechsler, a lawyer who represented seven of the officers, said his clients are anxious to get past the ordeal.
“The resolution is the product of considerable negotiation between the officers, the union, and management,’’ Drechsler said.
“Everyone is just pleased to put this behind them, turn the page, and move on with their careers.’’
Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com. 