Dispatcher Arrested For Drug Suspect Tip-Off

Police in Meriden (Conn.) have arrested one of their own dispatchers, accusing her of tipping off a man that officers were surveilling as part of a drug investigation. Alacoque Gonzalez, 53, was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution, conspiracy to commit second-degree hindering prosecution and interfering with an officer. The case recalls similar arrest in 2009 when an Illinois dispatcher tipped off a drug suspect that he’d been reported by a citizen and that officers had been dispatched to investigate. In this case, Gonzalez allegedly was on-duty when officers requested registration information on the suspect’s vehicle. Police station video surveillance tapes showed Gonzalez leaving the comm center right after the records check to use her cellular phone. Acting on a tip, police began an investigation into Gonzalez. After the drug suspect was arrested, officers examined his cell phone and discovered text messages from Gonzalez warning he was under investigation. Read more about the case here.