Two convicts to be freed from jail as a result of probe into Southampton PD

Two men convicted on felony narcotics charges are being released from prison, their convictions vacated and indictments dismissed by the court on the consent of prosecutors, Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota announced Friday afternoon.

“Recently the district attorney’s office came into possession of information that affects the credibility of a Southampton Town police officer who was assigned to the now-disbanded street crime unit,” Spota said in a statement emailed to the media.

“As is our legal duty, we immediately began a prioritized review of over 100 arrests involving this officer during the time period in question,” he said.

The initial review focused on incarcerated defendants, Spota said, but his office is continuing to review pending and closed cases to determine if any additional action is necessary. He said he anticipates other cases involving the street crime unit will be dismissed as a result.

The two convicts being released are Bernard Cooks, 31, of Southampton, and Mohammed Proctor, 36, of Riverside, according to The Southampton Press.

“The decision to release convicted drug dealers back into the community under these circumstances is not undertaken lightly and is made free from political consideration or favor, contrary to recent assertions made by former town and police officials,” Spota said.

The DA said his office is “duty bound under the law to take this action.”

Former Southampton Village Police Chief William Wilson Jr. was hired as chief of the town police department in May 2011, and disbanded the street crime unit. According to the Press, the chief said he “launched an internal investigation into the unit after information developed about six months ago.”

Lieutenant James Kiernan, the former head of the street crime unit was suspended earlier this month on 32 disciplinary charges, according to the Press, which has reported allegations of an officer in the unit allegedly addicted to prescription drugs allegedly being protected by the unit supervisor.