Lawyers in cop ticket-fix case want wiretaps trashed

Attorneys for police officers charged in last year’s ticket fixing scandal aim to have the vast majority of nearly half-a-million wiretaps thrown out before any trial begins.

At Bronx Criminal Court on April 13, Al O’Leary, a representative of the Police Benevolent Association, said union lawyers have been combing through the Bronx District Attorney’s massive haul since January, working on a strategy to have it rendered inadmissible.

Investigators intercepted more than 450,000 communications (139,000 phone calls, the rest text messages and e-mails) during the nearly two-year inquiry into organized ticket fixing, lawyers revealed at a packed hearing on Jan. 5. 

“I believe the PBA attorneys are looking into finding a way to have them excluded from consideration,” Mr. O’Leary said in an interview. “In a perfect world they’d get all of those excluded and this thing is over. It’s not likely that’s going to happen, but we’re certainly looking for an opportunity.”

In the months leading up to the October arrests of 21 people, including 16 cops, for their involvement in a borough wide ticket-fixing scheme, news of the not-so-secret investigation and details from confidential grand jury proceedings found their way into many of the city’s newspapers, including The Riverdale Press. 

Those arrested included Joseph Anthony, a former 50th Precinct union delegate and current PBA trustee. Fiftieth Precinct cops and PBA delegates James Sheehan and Michael Lifrieri — as well as former Five-O commander Deputy Inspector John D’Adamo — were not charged criminally but were among those the DA said had been recorded discussing the practice of ticket fixing. 

PBA officials said that after the wiretaps are quashed and the cases are dismissed, accused cops will tell their side of the story.

“We patiently wait in this courtroom for the day when these accused police officers can stand up and tell the true story and put fact to the fiction that’s been reported in the past,” PBA President Patrick Lynch said.

Inside the courtroom, the difficulties of trying so many defendants at once — which promises to slow the process — became clear. When lawyers were called before the judge, they gathered in three rows, lined behind a defense table normally meant for one or two people.

“I’d say make yourself comfortable but I don’t know if that’s going to be possible,” Judge Barret said as the attorneys squeezed in.

Judge Steven Barret scheduled the next hearing in the case for Aug. 1, and called the date “arbitrary.”