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PHILADELPHIA, July 30 (UPI) -- Six Philadelphia Police narcotics officers were arrested by federal agents Wednesday as part of an ongoing corruption probe. Officers John Speiser, Brian Reynolds, Thomas Liciardello and three additional, yet-unnamed, Philly cops were arrested in their home just after 5 a.m. Wednesday. All are former or current narcotics officers.
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The arrests come as part of a federal investigation launched after corrupt narcotics officer Jeffery Walker was taken down in a 2013 FBI sting. When Walker plead guilty in 2014 to planting evidence and other corruption charges, he agreed to turn over evidence of other police wrong doing, with his defense attorney promising a "significant" number of indictments to result from Walker's statements.
"More than I can count at this point," Thomas Fitzpatrick said at the time of Walker's conviction.
Specific charges will be announced at a press conference Wednesday, but CBS Philadelphia says a federal grand jury is investigating allegations that Philadelphia narcotics officers repeatedly robbed drugs and money from the dealers they were charged with taking down.
Federal authorities are expected to seek pre-trial detention for all or most the officers.
