Celia Washington (Linkedin photo)
Police departments often struggle to maintain good reps in the eyes of the public.
Here's a big black eye for the Detroit Police Department.
Former Detroit Police Deputy Chief Celia Washington, who served as the legal adviser for the force, was indicted on federal conspiracy and bribery charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
The indictment alleges that Washington took bribes in exchange for helping an unnamed towing mogul grab a bigger piece of a Detroit towing industry that totaled more than $2 million a year, Robert Snell of the Detroit News reports.
In February 2016, Washington met the towing owner and requested money and later pocketed at least $3,000 cash from the owner, the indictment alleges.
Snell reports:
Washington, 57, of Detroit is the 17th person charged in a wide-ranging FBI investigation focused on three fronts: Fiore’s towing empire; Macomb County politicians pocketing bribes in exchange for approving municipal contracts with Sterling Heights trash hauler Rizzo Environmental Services; and the Macomb County Public Works office.
“If the allegations are true, it’s extremely troubling,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Wednesday. “It’s certainly a betrayal, not only to the men and women of this police department and my office, but the citizens of this city. That stain is present. This is deeply troubling and a significant betrayal to this organization.”
