Clewiston officer accused of selling drugs
By Pat Gillespie
The News-Press, FL
05/04/06
A Clewiston police sergeant was arrested Thursday after an undercover investigation revealed he was selling drugs while on duty and in uniform, authorities said.
Sgt. Brian K. Kniceley, 42, was arrested Thursday at the Clewiston Police Department and charged with two counts of official misconduct, one count of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and two counts sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, said Larry Long, spokesman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The investigation started in December 2005 after agents learned that Kniceley was allegedly using police databases to gather criminal and personal information on people and selling it.
An undercover agent contacted Kniceley in March and bought the information from him while he was on duty and in uniform for $100.
Kniceley told the agent he could get him some marijuana and invited him to his house at 900 S. Deane Duff Ave. In April, Kniceley contacted the agent twice and told him to come to his house. In both dealings, Kniceley received money in exchange for the drugs. During one of those times, Kniceley was in uniform, Long said.
The Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Clewiston Police Department investigated. Clewiston police arrested Kniceley and booked him into the Hendry County Jail.
As of late Thursday, Kniceley was in the jail in lieu of $60,000 bail.
Kniceley has been with the Clewiston Police Department for 10 years and was a sergeant for about two, Assistant Police Chief Kristine Petersen said.
Petersen said Kniceley was fired Thursday after he was arrested.
"We are distressed and are very embarrassed for the city and this department," she said.
Kniceley was charged with selling the drugs within 1,000 feet of a school because, according to public records, his house is within half a mile of three Hendry County schools — Central Elementary School, Westside Elementary School and Eastside Elementary School.
The News-Press, FL
05/04/06
A Clewiston police sergeant was arrested Thursday after an undercover investigation revealed he was selling drugs while on duty and in uniform, authorities said.
Sgt. Brian K. Kniceley, 42, was arrested Thursday at the Clewiston Police Department and charged with two counts of official misconduct, one count of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and two counts sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, said Larry Long, spokesman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The investigation started in December 2005 after agents learned that Kniceley was allegedly using police databases to gather criminal and personal information on people and selling it.
An undercover agent contacted Kniceley in March and bought the information from him while he was on duty and in uniform for $100.
Kniceley told the agent he could get him some marijuana and invited him to his house at 900 S. Deane Duff Ave. In April, Kniceley contacted the agent twice and told him to come to his house. In both dealings, Kniceley received money in exchange for the drugs. During one of those times, Kniceley was in uniform, Long said.
The Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Clewiston Police Department investigated. Clewiston police arrested Kniceley and booked him into the Hendry County Jail.
As of late Thursday, Kniceley was in the jail in lieu of $60,000 bail.
Kniceley has been with the Clewiston Police Department for 10 years and was a sergeant for about two, Assistant Police Chief Kristine Petersen said.
Petersen said Kniceley was fired Thursday after he was arrested.
"We are distressed and are very embarrassed for the city and this department," she said.
Kniceley was charged with selling the drugs within 1,000 feet of a school because, according to public records, his house is within half a mile of three Hendry County schools — Central Elementary School, Westside Elementary School and Eastside Elementary School.
posted by Terry at
6:49 AM
1 Comments:
We are in a small town, police corruption is everywhere but it makes a big deal in a small town. What makes a cop corrupt? How do you combat? When there is a lack of ethics or morals, how does one pass for one who should protect and serve! We must start holding those who hire these guys accountable!
By
Patricia Adams, at 8:05 PM
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