Ten Officers Arrested on Drug Charges

Ten current and former Atlanta-area police officers were arrested Tuesday on charges they took thousands of dollars in payoffs to protect drug dealers. 

Enlarge image

Credit Martha Dalton/WABE News

U.S. Attorney Sally Yates announces the arrest of 10 Atlanta-area officers accused of protecting drug traffickers.

The officers are from different departments, according to U.S. Attorney Sally Yates.

"​[There were] two officers with the DeKalb County police department, two Forest Park police officers, one APD officer, one Stone Mountain officer, one MARTA police officer, two former DeKalb County sheriff’s deputies, and one contract officer with the Federal Protective Service,” Yates said. 

While investigating a local street gang, Yates said federal agents received tips local cops were protecting gangs from law enforcement. So, Yates said, they started an undercover operation.

“Time after time, law enforcement officers who were sworn to protect the public and to uphold the law, participated in drug deals being conducted by the undercover agents or folks who were cooperating with law enforcement,” she said. 

Five other people were also arrested for allegedly assisting with the drug transactions.