Two Rochester cops arrested

Pair is charged with stealing money from drug transactions

By Alan Morrell
Democrat and Chronicle

(May 29, 2003) — Rochester police arrested two of their own officers Wednesday in connection with the alleged theft of money from “people involved in the drug trade,” Chief Robert Duffy said Wednesday.

Officer Victor Millan, 31, a 10 1/2-year veteran, was charged with petit larceny and official misconduct, both misdemeanors, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Officer Phillip Bustos, 33, a 12 1/2-year veteran, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

Duffy announced the arrests during a hastily called news conference late Wednesday.

Both officers worked out of Goodman Section in northeast Rochester, but they were not partners, Duffy said. Millan and Bustos were arrested Wednesday, in uniform, while on duty, and sent to the Monroe County Jail. Both have been suspended without pay.

“When you arrest one of your own, it is devastating to everyone in the Rochester Police Department,” Duffy said. “I hope the community does not judge the Police Department on the actions of two officers. There are men and women who go out every day and night and put their lives at risk to serve this community. When someone breaches the trust the community puts in police, it affects everyone.”

State Police helped with the investigation, Duffy said. Troopers and city police conducted a sting operation Wednesday that resulted in the arrests, he said.

Duffy said police officials had received information from “people involved in the drug trade” who said they were stopped by police and had money taken from them. Investigators noticed discrepancies between the amount allegedly taken and the amount turned in to the property clerk’s office, Duffy said.

He would not release more specific information.

“We got information from more than one source and determined there was a degree of reliability that warranted this kind of investigation,” Duffy said, calling the matter a “disgraceful situation.”

Duffy said an investigation has been ongoing for about three weeks.

He would not say for how long the thefts were alleged to have occurred, but said officials acted on the information immediately.

No other officers are being investigated, Duffy said. He said an internal investigation has concluded, but he added that additional criminal charges could be filed.

Bustos was honored by the department in 1995 for apprehending a man with a gun and also was honored with a commendation award in 2000, and with a “Distinguished Service” award in 2001.

Millan was honored with an “Excellent Police Service” award from the department in 2001.