7 New York police officers arrested in gambling and prostitution, authorities say

Seven police officers were arrested Wednesday in connection with a gambling and prostitution network in Brooklyn and Queens, law enforcement officials said.

More than 40 civilians were also being detained or wanted as part of the investigation, which began in April 2015 after the police bureau received a tip from an officer who suspected his colleagues were involved in activities. illegal.

All seven are believed to have protected illegal gambling and prostitution at Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, law enforcement officials said. Local residents and officials have long complained about brothels operating from homes, spas and local bars.

Three sergeants, two detectives and two police officers were arrested and two more detectives were placed in administrative service. The officials did not specify the criminal and disciplinary charges that officers face.

"Today, those who took the oath and betrayed it felt the consequences of this unfaithfulness," Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said in a statement. "The people of this department are rightly held at the highest level, and if they do not, the penalty will be quick and severe."

Mr. O'Neill said during the arrests that the Internal Affairs Unit and the Queens Attorney sent a clear message that there is no place in the N.Y.P.D. for criminal or unethical behavior. "

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said that formal charges will be announced Thursday when officers should be brought before the state Supreme Court.

The sergeants who were arrested were Carlos Cruz, who worked in the Detective Brigade of the 69th Canarsie Police Station in Brooklyn; Louis Failla, who has been assigned to collect evidence in South Queens; and Cliff Nieves, an investigator from the transit office. They were arrested with two detectives, Giovanny Rojas-Acosta, who was assigned to the Central Investigation Division, and René Samaniego, who worked in the South Brooklyn Vice Presidents' Brigade. Officers Giancarlo Raspanti of the 109th Flushing Police Station, Queens and Steven Nieves of the 84th Brooklyn Heights Police Station were also arrested.

Two other detectives, Manuel Rodriguez and Rafael Vega, were robbed of their firearms and shields and were subjected to administrative burdens for violating police rules, the police said. The police did not specify how men came up against the rules of the service.

Inspector Rodriguez previously worked in domestic affairs and arrived in the 72nd arrondissement just five months ago, according to a city official who discussed the investigation on condition of anonymity. Detective Vega has been working on criminal enterprise investigations.

During this three-year investigation, police sent dozens of undercover agents to areas where the ring was believed to function and conducted more than 300 hours of surveillance, the police said. The investigators also obtained court warrants to collect physical evidence and intercept the police's electronic communications, police said.