Brothel 'stake-out cops' arrest police chief
[From the "do as I say, not as I do" files]
A New Jersey police chief has been suspended after his detectivesstaking out a brothel allegedly caught him leaving the building while
he was off-duty.
Runnemede borough officials say Police Chief James Martin Leason has
been suspended without pay and charged with promoting prostitution.
Leason has also been charged with misconduct in office. He could face
up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He was released on a $5,000
bond.
A council spokesman said: "The mayor and council are shocked and
disappointed by Chief Leason's arrest. However, the safety of the
residents will not be affected by this incident."
Runnemede resident Dawn Coulter, 27, said: "Even my grandma was
talking about it. She thinks it's disgusting. I think it's disgusting,
too. It's hard to believe. I mean, the guy is the police chief, and he
gets arrested for prostitution. It's very shameful."
The alleged brothel at the Arbors Apartments in Maple Shade had been
in operation since at least July 2003, Burlington County authorities
said. Prosecutor Robert Bernardi said officers had been investigating
the brothel, not the chief.
Leason was arrested as he left the apartment after "engaging in
various sex acts with one of the two female employees," authorities
stated.
Robert Del Sordo, a lawyer who has known the chief since his days as a
patrolman, said Leason had a reputation in the community for "being
fair and square," reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.