Hearing set for Camden officer

By GEORGE MAST
Courier-Post
Jun. 29, 2010

CAMDEN — A Camden police officer suspended last year as part of a federal corruption probe is scheduled to appear in federal court here today.

Patrolman Jason Stetser, who was suspended along with several other officers in November, is due in U.S. District Court for a plea hearing, according to court records.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment.

In March, Patrolman Kevin Parry admitted in federal court that he and four other officers for more than two years arrested suspects with planted drugs, carried out illegal searches and wrote false arrest reports.

Along with Stetser and Parry, Patrolman Antonio Figueroa and Robert Bayard were also suspended as part of the FBI investigation.

A fifth officer under investigation, Sgt. Dan Morris, retired Jan. 1.

Parry is the only officer who has been charged. Parry was initially set to be sentenced last week. His sentencing was changed to December, however.

An investigation into drug arrests made by the officers under investigation has resulted in inmates being released from prison, drug convictions being overturned and pending cases being dropped.

In all, 185 criminal cases were dismissed by the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

The mass dismissals brought a host of legal actions against the city, as former drug suspects said they were falsely arrested and in many cases falsely imprisoned.

As of the first week of this month, city officials had received notice of 30 lawsuits that have been filed or are pending.

The city is responsible for all payouts up to $300,000 -- anything above that is covered by Meadowbrook Insurance Group.