PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia judge has reversed 158 more narcotics convictions amid a long-running probe of seven narcotics officers, even though the officers were mostly acquitted of corruption charges.
Public defender Bradley Bridge says that about 560 convictions have now been reversed.
Philadelphia Police officers Thomas Liciardello, Brian Reynolds, Michael Spicer, and from bottom left to right, Perry Betts, Linwood Norman and John Speiser.APBridge tells The Philadelphia Inquirer that fewer than half of the squad’s convictions have been reviewed.
Federal prosecutors accused the veteran officers of stealing large sums of drugs and cash from suspects and lying in court afterward.
Officer Jeffrey Walker is serving a three-year prison term after pleading guilty and testifying against his former squad members at trial this year.
However, a jury acquitted the other six. They have gotten their jobs back.
But, Officer Perry Betts has been suspended and faces dismissal after allegedly testing positive for marijuana.
