Three Metro officers on trial for corruption

Three Indianapolis officers are in federal court, accused of stealing money and drugs from dope dealers.

When former IMPD officer James Davis searched a home in the 2200 block of Kenwood Avenue, he had no idea he would take the starring role in an FBI surveillance tape. Hidden cameras show Davis looking for cash and drugs before his two alleged cohorts showed up.

In federal court Thursday, the 34-year-old testified against former narcotics officers 35-year-old Robert Long and 38-year old Jason Edwards. He told jurors he didn't think he was wrong stealing from criminals, saying he was motivated by "the greed factor, the money that was involved...the acceptance of the two co-defendants," adding, "Maybe I could get on that section with them."

Long and Edwards were part of IMPD's Dangerous Drug Section and were supposed to track down gangs and drug dealers, but not for their own benefit.

Prosecutors asked Davis if he intended to stop the illegal shakedowns if he made it into the unit.

His response: "Probably not."

There have been some unexpected twists since the officers' arrest a year ago. A confidential informant who implicated the two died. Prosecutors played a tape of him talking with the pair in court.

On it, the informant and Long discussed ways to rip off a drug courier. Later FBI wiretaps caught Long telling Davis how he planned to secretly use a neighboring department to carry out the scheme:

"I had this one little rookie from Plainfield. I talked to his supervisor and said, 'hey man, I just needed someone to make a stop for me,' and he was just like okay, he can handle that."

"I take half and then ya'll split the other half, and then I'll plan a vacation for all of us. Everybody going to come out here with some 'k'," said Long, referring to money.

Long and Edwards could each face up to 55 years in prison on gun charges alone. Their defense is questioning whether they were armed during the illegal shakedowns.

In exchange for his guilty plea and testimony, James Davis, who was armed and in uniform during the criminal activity, now faces up to 15 years instead of a possible life sentence.