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Feds: Gang-unit cop provided info to gang members out of anger he was taken off the investigation into them
By adamg on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 7:05pm
A second member of the BPD gang unit faces a charge of trying to disrupt a two-year investigation of the Academy Homes gang in Roxbury.
But unlike Det. Mel Steele, who acted out of a longstanding friendship with a member of the gang in feeding information to its members, Det. Brian Smigielski is charged with acting in a fit of pique.
Smigielski was initially the lead Boston detective in an ongoing FBI/BPD probe into the gang. But in an "information" filed in US District Court in Boston last week, the US Attorney's office charges Smigielski began feeding information about the investigation to Academy Homes members after he was taken off the case in 2009 - and ordered to hand over all his files and notes to the FBI and another BPD unit, the Special Investigations Unit.
The federal document makes two specific allegations against Smigielski:
Smigielski and Steele met with two Academy Homes members at Daisy Buchanan's on Newbury Street in January, 2010 to alert them they were under investigation. In April, 2011, the document alleges, Smigielski warned one gang member that officers could be getting ready to arrest him.
Steele pleaded guilty to a charge of lying to FBI agents when asked if he was helping out gang members. In exchange for his plea, he got a $2,000 fine and probation, but no prison time.
Court records show that Smigielski may have also reached a plea deal - a plea hearing is scheduled for a Sept. 29 before Judge Denise Casper on the charge of conspiracy to impede a federal investigation.
Last year, Smigielski received a commendation from Commissioner William Evans for his work in chasing and helping to capture two men wanted in connection with gunfire in Mattapan. The department praised him for his "courageous actions" and not retreating under danger.
Innocent, etc.
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 Smigielski Information | 47.23 KB |
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Comments
Jesus H. Christ
smh.
Does anyone know why it's no
Does anyone know why it's no longer a joint unit, containing members of other departments? Also, did these corrupt acts start after it became a BPD-only unit?
If there was ever..
...a government institution that needed a complete overhaul it is the "police".
Police Reform
I would love to see police reform before I die, society is getting better as the world gets smaller, somewhat, I believe police applying force exacerbates more than it helps at this point.
Police should turn into community leaders and foot patrol and not armadas that make blocks feel like they're under siege. People shouldn't fear cops.
I wanted to give props to the cops who didn't kill the suicidal man (earlier post) but I remembered, that is what they're supposed to do.
Seeing this guy get protections for breaking a law that a normal person would get football numbers for, makes me sick.
My precious
2000 bucks? That's it?
These gangbangers kill people. If Smiegel prevented one from being pulled in, he has blood on his hands.
His coworkers ought to invite him to a blanket party for that.
Unbelievable
Let me begin by saying many cops do a great job, such as the police in the story Adam posted yesterday who did not give the "suicide by cop" that the perp wanted. (Necessary preface, lest I be accused of being "anti-police").
These stories make it crystal clear that much greater civilian oversight of law enforcement is needed. If it were one story here and there, I would attribute it to a few bad apples. When I read about it on a regular basis, I believe there is a culture of entitlement and a feeling that they are above the law that pervades much of law enforcement.
Frankly, the police should be interested in fixing this problem too. When we have more faith in the institution, they will receive more respect from the public they interact with. Good police are hurting themselves with this 'thin blue line" crap.
Somewhat self-fulfilling
Fewer "good people" become cops because they know this is exactly what goes on. Thus the percentage of bad cops increases and fewer "good people" become cops.
Source?
Source?
"I would attribute it to a few bad apples"
A few bad apples spoil the bunch. That is the saying. Trying to use it as a defense in any there's more good cops than bad argument is the like traveling to a foreign country, refusing to eat anything but McDonalds, and then saying "When in Rome"
Being pissed that the FBI was
taking over his work this guy acts like a 13 year old and blows up the investigation and his career. Real deep thinker.
When is Commissioner Evans and Mayor Walsh
going to clean up the department? Through the years the Boston Police has been plagued with corruption. Why do I see most cops get away with stuff that the average citizen doesn't. I have had friends in the BPD and their relatives tell me what really goes on with some of these officers and it travels through the ranks. What about the many things that we don't know about? Cops need to start telling on other cops but we all know that's not going to happen.
Evans was great as a Superintendent but........
He needs not to be Police Commissioner. What are the odds that his brother used to be commissioner and now him. It's called the good old boys network!
Which, of course, has nothing to do with this case
Evans was not commissioner as this was all unraveling.
It's a sign of the times
If Evans's promotion was a product of the good ol' boys network (taking the assumption made in the previous poster's comment), then why should the public have faith in his ability to root out the corruption that leads to this type of criminal behavior by the police?
When a corrupt officer is "rooted out"
indicted and on the front page of the newspaper, as is this boob, I'd say Evans is doing what he is being accused of not doing.
What does Evans have to do with this?
We are going to give Evans credit for the federal prosecution?
Evans could have helped the feds with this prosecution. He could have impeded the federal investigation.
We could blame Evans for allowing this type of guy to serve under him. We could praise Evans for being in charge at the time this is being exposed and prosecuted.
Anon was saying that Evans shouldn't be Commissioner because he's part of the old boys network. I don't think this prosecution supports or undermines that assertion.
You are entitled to your resentment of
of a highly respected police officer who rose through the ranks through his abilities. Among his peers his reputation is impeccable, his ethics unimpeachable. Though for some critics being a white Irish catholic from South Boston means he shouldn't have the job.
and there are many people,
and there are many people, especially the people in power in Boston, as the demographics show, who see being a white irish catholic from southie means he should get the job over anyone else.
Haha
Ok, Buck. I don't resent him, but don't let the facts get in the way.
Why don't you go back and read my posts carefully?
Did you read the
indictment?
Yes
N/T
"Resentment"?
There's nothing in the post to which you replied, that suggests even a smidgen of resentment or disrespect. Read the post again: it points out that the federal prosecution of a corrupt officer does not say anything one way or the other about Evans.
Semantics
circus.
as a teen bill evans chased me on more than one occasion
I think I've told a lot of stories out here about being roughed up by BPD and seeing others get roughed up. all of these things are true and all happened over 20 years ago. bill evans was never one of the rough/asshole cops we all feared and detested (bill hill anyone?). as a patrolman he would stop and talk to us (we all called him Gretzky because he resembled the great one 99). he treated us with respect and we did the same in return. evans became a friend of my neighborhood and someone we didn't have to run from or avoid. he wasn't so much worried about the six pack of budweiser we had hidden in the bushes as he was about mrs oleary who owned the bushes. he taught us (or at least those who listened) to be respectful of the neighborhood and the neighbors. no good old boy network with this guy. he is all about the city and its people. I hope he is here for a long time.
Wrong blog for this story,
Wrong blog for this story, but thanks for telling it.
The yuppie who runs the site and the yuppies who read it don't want to hear about good cops who grew up in our city doing right by us. Back when we were growing up in the Boston of 30 years ago, these people were miles and miles away, safe and can't fathom the fact that we have a great police department. This is one bad cop out of thousands. THOUSANDS. I'll take those odds any day.
Sorry, you lose
30 years ago, I was living in Brighton.
but but but but but but but ...
It doesn't matter if you've lived in the area longer than these kids have been alive ... you have to be born someplace and then you own it!
More tribal bullshit
You're absolutely right, there's a stink of "I don't like those who aren't a member of my tribe" around here.
Its called succeeding
at one's craft.