Philly Cop Arrested For Dealing Drugs
By Wyatt Earp | March 29, 2009
In an attempt to be fair, I try to post about the despicable people of my department just as often as I post about the heroes. Alhinde Weems is a despicable drug-dealing scumbag that should have never been issued a badge.
The worst part? This man was dealing drugs long before he entered the Police Academy. How’s that for applicant screening?
A Philadelphia police officer was accused Friday of selling cocaine to an informant and later plotting with an undercover agent to conduct an armed raid on the home of a person he believed to be a drug supplier.
Alhinde Weems, 33, was a longtime drug dealer prior to becoming an officer more than five years ago and continued to deal drugs while he was on the force, federal authorities alleged in an affidavit. The FBI arrested Weems Friday, authorities said.
And this piece of detritus had no problem taking the oath and serving alongside honorable police officers. Disgusting.
“This man dishonored the badge in a way that’s unconscionable to us,” Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross said at a news conference, adding that Weems has been suspended with intent to dismiss. “This case starts and stops with Weems. This is it.”
Ross said the department thoroughly screens police candidates and will conduct an internal investigation to see how an alleged drug dealer got onto the force. (H/T – CBS3)
I would love to see the results of that investigation, because this is not the first time something like this has happened in Philadelphia. We have had police recruits arrested on the grounds of the Police Academy numerous times since I came on the job, and it always amazes me.
Hell, there is an officer in my division that has a tattoo on his arm that reads: “F.T.P.” The “officer” told a co-worker that it stood for “F**k The Police.” Lovely.
The irony of it all is that if the city didn’t push through so many *qualified candidates, these types of people would never be allowed to wear the uniform.
*In Philadelphia, “qualified” usually means “fitting a certain racial or ethnic template.”
Topics: Philly, The Job | 8 Comments »
March 29th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Good riddance to rubbish! You don’t need someone like that watching your back. He’d be more worried about whether his drug deal would go bad.
I wish the city would FINALLY ease up on the residency restrictions and let people in who really qualify (and I’m not saying anything bad about the Philly cops).
It’s obvious the screening is a joke and any thug can bcome a police officer in Philadelphia. It’s disturbing and disgusting. Someone’s (meaning the good guy) is going to eventually get hurt because of all this crap.
Someone needs to start cleaning house in a hurry!
Be safe out there, Wyatt.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Giving the good, upstanding, and dedicated cops a really bad name that they don’t deserve. I can’t believe the idiot wasn’t caught sooner.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:33 am
He’s gonna have a ball in prison!
March 29th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
“This case starts and stops with Weems. This is it.”
What does this mean? I know it is a journalist reporting (or misreporting) this but it cannot stop there. Sounds to me that this was pretty flagrant and others knew, or ought to have known, and acted.
“Ross said the department thoroughly screens police candidates …”
That was effective,eh?
“Ross said the department … will conduct an internal investigation to see how an alleged drug dealer got onto the force”
Why should anyone believe this will be an more effective than the original screening?
My boss used to say insanity was doing the same fool thing twice and expecting a different result the second time. What is going to be changed? Does anyone have the will to change it?
In the meantime the honest cops have to face the stigma and the “knowing” comments that, “They’re all at it!”
March 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Last time I was looking for staff I had an informal policy (totally supported by the Management) that I would take on the most capable candidate whether they were pink, black, white, green with purple spots or 2 headed like Zaphod Beeblebrox. The only requirement was they had to be willing to listen and learn, able to read (to understand the safety notices) and to speak English (to enable them to communicate effectively in emergencies).
I wanted only genuinely the best and we’d try again if none of the candidates was up to it. Simply “qualified” did not cut it.
Mind you, it was a nuclear power station …
But is the police force in its own way any different? The immediate risk to life and limb is far greater with a bad cop.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Dishonored the badge indeed. You stay safe Wyatt, I’ll be praying for you.
March 30th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Daisy – It’s worse than you know. The hiring standards here have gotten worse since I started – Going on 15 years now. Jesus, I’m old!
RT – Apparently, the Feds knew he was dealing when he was in the Academy and never gave us the heads-up.
Mrs. Crankipants – Or two. Heh.
Alan B – Ross was referring to this particular case. He was saying that Weems was the only officer implicated. The rest of your comment is spot-on.
Ky person – Always. Thanks.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Did he sell to young Miss Biden?