MUNCIE, Ind. (WTHR) - A Delaware County sheriff’s deputy was allegedly so into the drug scene, prosecutors charge, he let his nephew use his service weapon when he was carrying drug money.
While fellow officers were putting their lives on the line to stop the drug trade, investigators say deputy Jerry Parks was actually helping drug dealers.
"I got emails, I got phone calls. It lit up like wildfire," said Marwin Strong, Muncie. The anti-violence activist says the alleged drug involvement of the K-9 officer sets back efforts to bring peace to the streets.
For nearly a year, Strong’s Enough is Enough street-level campaign has reached out, targeting the worst neighborhoods with the best message: build trust. But now, with a deputy busted in a wide-ranging drug probe, Strong says "not every police officer is a bad police officer, but that rotten apple can spoil the whole batch. And they think everybody's crooked. Those are the things I got back. So they feel they can't trust him."
It undermines everything Enough is Enough is trying to do.
The joint agency probe that netted Parks started last March. It led to 17 arrests as police seized cash, guns and drugs. One of those arrested, Danny Terry, is Parks’ deputy's nephew. He allegedly gave up his uncle to police.
According to court papers, the nephew wore a wire to record a meeting with the deputy.
Parks is alleged to have informed drug dealers about police undercover operations and gave his nephew confiscated drugs.
"Kind of like a family affair," said Georgette Clemens. On the street where we ran into the grandmother she told us it's very disappointing. With everything else going on in Muncie with our schools and everything, you know, it's really a bad situation. With our whole community and then to know that our police officer (deputy) is so crooked and cruel. Wondering what is our city coming to."
"It don't make no sense" said Coranada Tyree says "He's supposed to be protecting people and is not doing his job."
Longtime Muncie resident Bennie McCoy said the officers was basically "putting the kids out there on drugs. That's what he's doing.”
Clemens worries about the impression left on young people.
"You hear all this going on with the police officer, I have a grandson, seven-years-old. Ever since he was able to talk all he wanted to be is police officer, you know. What is that going to do for him?"
“He was, we believe, assisting and also part of a family drug ring,” said Muncie Police Chief Joe Winkle. Winkle was quick to reassure the public that no other officers were caught up in this drug investigation.
A deputy prosecutor said the conduct alleged put police officers at risk.
“How they moved around, what kind of vehicles or equipment they used,” explained Chief Deputy Prosecutor Zach Craig. “That definitely stands a chance of putting those individuals in harm's way. Which is definitely a main concern.”
Police arrested Parks and his wife at their Muncie home. According to investigators, their two children, ages 6 and 12 years old, were at home when drug dealing occurred.
Parks served the sheriff’s department for 16 years. He is now on paid administrative leave. It is likely the sheriff will call for his dismissal.
Police call Parks' actions beyond disappointing.
“We have a good image here in Delaware County,” said Chief Deputy David Spence. “For a guy to do this is disheartening.”
Parks' wife, Bridgette, faces drug and child neglect charges. Parks faces much more serious drug charges.
If convicted, Parks could be sentenced to decades in prison.